Walsall manager 'concerned' by winless run

Smith's men extended their run to 14 games without victory after being held 1-1 by bottom side Hartlepool on Saturday.

Dean Holden rescued a point after Evan Horwood's penalty gave Pools a shock first-half lead.

It left Walsall 19th in League One – three points above the drop zone – and Smith revealed his worries but reckons they can escape their nosedive.

He said: "It's a concern we're not winning games but if you keep doing the right things it'll come good and the players kept doing the right things.

"John Hughes, the Hartlepool boss, shook hands with me and said 'you battered us' and if we keep playing like that we'll win games. That's what I said to the players, keep believing and keep playing that way.

"The lads are hungry for success and they want to get better every game. The attitude and application is what we've had in the last couple of games and when you get that you get good results.

"Of the Hartlepool games, I have seen it was the most one sided one I've seen them in. We were the dominant force."

It was the Saddlers' third straight draw after points at Crawley and Tranmere but they now face an enforced two-week break.

Their early FA Cup exit means Walsall do not play again until they go to Coventry in two weeks.

And Smith believes they are close to rediscovering the winning touch and have the players to cope with their alarming dip in form.

He said: "I wouldn't quite call it digging in because we've played some terrific stuff in the last three games and all that's missing is a win.

"We have got a weekend off before a local derby and we will look forward to it. We have got good footballers and we have a project.

"We have kids coming through, we have got people playing in the first team, good players who have adapted to a style and all we need are wins."