Dean Smith looking for more clean sheets

Boss Dean Smith today backed his clean sheet kings to give Walsall the edge in the race for survival.

The Saddlers have conceded just 39 goals in 35 games to give them the sixth best defensive record in League One.

Only leaders Charlton, Stevenage, Huddersfield, MK Dons and Sheffield United have better defences than the 20^th placed Saddlers, who are just three points above the drop zone.

They go to Yeovil tomorrow with four shut outs in their last six outings and Smith insisted his defence are men who can keep Walsall up.

He said: "They are - if you're a professional player and your position is a defender you want to be the best you can and the players are like that. Mat Sadler has been steady all season and so have Andy Butler, Manny Smith who has come in for Olly Lancashire, and Richard Taundry. They are good defenders and what they're doing is getting consistency into their game as a unit. I'm really pleased with how they've been playing.

"It was similar last season and goal difference is worth a point to you. If you are level on points with the opposition you are above them. It's certainly very good for us.

"Defensively as a team we analyse the opposition before we play them and we're pleased with how they've been taking it on the pitch and dealing with it. We've been the aggressors in most of the games we've played."

But the Saddlers could be without Adam Chambers tomorrow after he picked up a minor infection in the ankle cut which kept him out for over two weeks.

The midfielder has taken antibiotics to clear the problem but Taundry is definitely out with his hamstring injury.

"Adam has had a bit of a reaction with his heel. It's got a slight infection and it got a bit angry after the game last week," added Smith.

"It was a gash on his heel and it was always going to be hard for him because it was going to be rubbing when he got onto the pitch. That's what's happened unfortunately.

"It'll be too soon for Taunds, he's another week away with his hamstring but we're hoping he'll be ready for the Stevenage game."