Saddlers defender warns of backlash

Manny Smith today warned Stevenage of a Walsall backlash and insisted survival is within the Saddlers' grasp.

The defender reckons Walsall are ready to right the wrongs of a frustrating week which dented their survival hopes.

The Saddlers are fourth from bottom in League One, a point from the safety line, ahead of the clash with the surprise promotion chasers.

And Smith admitted Tuesday's last-gasp 2-2 draw at Sheffield Wednesday, when Gary Madine equalised in the 95th minute, left the Saddlers in determined mood.

"Stevenage can't come quick enough for us. Everyone is sticking together and it's possible for us to stay up," he said.

"We're ready to get out and get three points and we go into every game thinking we can. A draw wasn't bad on Tuesday, it could be the point which keeps us up, and if we play like that against Stevenage we shouldn't have any problems.

"The lads are going to put in a performance. We'll settle down after the Wednesday game. The main thing on Tuesday was everyone was in the changing room with their heads down, everyone was gutted, but the gaffer told us not to be disappointed. He wants to keep the momentum going."

The centre-back praised boss Dean Smith for keeping the squad focused after the double disappointment of luckless trips to Yeovil and Wednesday in the last week.

"That's the great thing about him, he's always positive, there's no negativity around the place and everything we do has to be positive," said the 23-year-old.

"He drilled it in to us on Tuesday. He said it was a winnable game and there was nothing to be scared of and he was right, there wasn't. We'd beaten them before so who said we couldn't do it again? But to just get a point was just sickening for the lads."

Smith is in line to keep his place after returning to the side at Hillsborough as he battles Oliver Lancashire for a place alongside Andy Butler in defence.

And insisted the friendly rivalry between the trio drives them to become better players.

He said: "We're all great friends off the pitch, we have banter and there's good competition between us three. Whoever is there with us we all encourage each other, at half time, after the game, before the game. It's good competition."