Walsall lifted by comeback

Boss Dean Smith today hailed amazing Argentine Emmanuel Ledesma after Walsall stole back the advantage in the survival race.

But the Saddlers chief insisted all his players deserved the plaudits for their 3-1 win over Colchester last night.

Forward Ledesma stole the show – scoring once and setting up George Bowerman – as Walsall moved two points clear of the League One drop zone.

And Smith insisted Ledesma's display proves why he brought the ace back this month after he left the Saddlers last June.

"We all know what Emmy can do, he's a fantastic talent. We've given him a theatre to express his talents and he's done that," he said.

"He's got flair but it's not just his flair – what people don't see sometimes is his workrate. He chases things down and chases lost causes.

"There aren't many players who could score a free kick like he did over a six foot four inch wall – he put it in the top corner.

"He practices all the time and his technique is fantastic. I've said many times about Emmy and that's one of the reasons why we brought him back.

"But I don't want to get drawn into it being an 'Emmy performance' because it was a team performance."

The Saddlers hit back through Ledesma and Mat Sadler's first career goal after Anthony Wordsworth's stunning opener.

It was just the second time they had come from behind to win this season but Smith insisted he backed his men to recover.

"I spoke to the lads before and at half time and said in football things will go for you and things will go against you. The important thing is how you react to them and the reaction was fantastic," he said.

"It was a very good performance and result against a very good team. Our reaction was great and we fully deserved it. To a man they were fantastic."

But the result was tempered after Jon Macken limped out with a hamstring strain and is now a doubt for Saturday's trip to Rochdale.

Smith added: "Jon will be a doubt at the moment, we'll see how he reacts to it and take it from there. "But hopefully we'll have the other three (Richard Taundry, Adam Chambers and Will Grigg) who are back in full training today ready for Saturday."