Dean Smith: We have defied the odds

Walsall boss Dean Smith today insisted his side have proved the doubters wrong to hold the advantage in the survival race.

The Saddlers will seal League One safety tomorrow if they beat Huddersfield at the Banks's Stadium to banish relegation fears.

Wycombe, Chesterfield or Exeter could yet catch them with two games remaining but Smith still insists that the fifth-from-bottom Saddlers hold all the cards.

He said: "A couple of months ago, we were on a poor run, and people were saying we were doomed and going down.

"Since then we have gone on a decent run and I would take our position over the team's chasing us.

"If we go and win the game, we will put it to bed and that's what we have told the lads. We know we have been playing well, with 11 men at Exeter we played well and against Tranmere and Charlton we did too.

"Unfortunately, things have gone against us and we haven't picked up the points we should have done."

Walsall are three points above the drop zone after suffering a trio of defeats. Chesterfield and Exeter go to Yeovil and Carlisle respectively needing to win to avoid the drop, while fourth-from-bottom Wycombe host Notts County.

But Smith will not pay attention to their results until the Saddlers have wrapped up their own game.

He said: "We're not concerned about who they are playing. What you do is you deal with it after the match.

"After the result of your game, you have a look at the others and see what you need to do – but it might be clear by then."

Huddersfield are guaranteed a play-off spot but Smith also backed his men to shackle 38-goal Jordan Rhodes after they kept him quiet when the teams drew 1-1 in November.

He said: "We stopped him at their place so they have got a tick in the box there.

"But they have Lee Novak, Gary Roberts, Danny Ward and Scott Arfield who can score goals. "But my players are aware of their team, they know what they have to do to beat them. They have had a great season and we know it's going to be tough.

"They will want to go into the play-offs with the momentum behind them."