Walsall players 'loving every minute' says Dean Smith

The Saddlers remain in the thick of the play-off race after Friday night's 0-0 draw at Peterborough and the manager says his players are loving every minute.

"It's fantastic," he said. "It's a great position we've put ourselves in and we're looking forward to the rest of the games now.

"They can't come fast enough for us because there's a real buzz about the place and a real excitement going into the last third of the season."

Smith's side stayed seventh after Friday's result, a point and a place behind the Posh, while results over the rest of the weekend largely went in their favour.

Swindon missed the chance to move above them as they could only draw 0-0 at home to Colchester, while Port Vale were held to the same scoreline away at lowly Shrewsbury. Of the teams in the race for sixth spot, only MK Dons made up ground courtesy of a last-gasp win over Oldham.

Smith also reserved praise for the performance of striker Michael Ngoo after handing the Liverpool loanee his first start in a Saddlers shirt. The 21-year-old had the first real chance of the game when he headed straight at home keeper Bobby Olejnik from a corner and though he was substituted, the manager was pleased with his effort and says he will only improve as he settles in at the Banks's.

"Michael did all right," he said. "He had a chance with the header. It's hard for the big man – he's used to these pristine pitches at Anfield and places like that so it was very tough for him out there today.

"He was a little hard done by because he's a big lad and the referee seemed to be giving a lot of free-kicks against him. He never seemed to get a lot for him.

"He did ok and he will get better as the games go on. The one thing you saw about him is that he's willing, it's not like you have to tell him to do things, he's willing to do things.

"He's starting to get used to what we're about as well, the longer he'll be here, the better he'll get.