Dean Smith hails positive Walsall after win

Goals from Romaine Sawyers, Tom Bradshaw and Paul Downing earned the Saddlers a 3-1 victory at the Banks's Stadium.

Preston, who suffered their first reverse of the campaign, had Jordan Hugill sent-off for clashing with returning home defender Andy Butler.

Manager Smith revealed he had told his players to go out and entertain from the word go.

"We started well today," said Smith. "It was something we had talked about in the week to be honest and we had worked on.

"I just spoke to the players and said our job is to go and entertain. We needed to get balls into the box, bodies into the box and start on the front foot. We did that and it was pleasing."

Sawyers put the Saddlers in front early on and though Joe Garner levelled for the visitors before the break, Bradshaw headed the back ahead early in the second period before Downing sealed it.

The only negatives saw both skipper Adam Chambers (ankle) and Bradshaw (hamstring) exit the game with injuries.

"We had a chat at half-time because I felt at the back end of the first half they were doing the ugly side of the game well, the second balls," added Smith.

"Their goal came from that. We just weren't moving with the ball as a unit. We addressed that at half-time unfortunately we lost Adam at half-time.

"We worked an awful lot on getting the ball wide and the second goal was fantastic. A great ball and a great header.

"We scored two goals from corners today which is pleasing, as people are always telling me we don't score from corners."

Hugill was dismissed midway through the second half when he stuck his head into the face of Butler.

"It was a red card, the lad has stuck his head in Butler's face," said Smith. "I thought the referee was inconsistent but in terms of the major decision he got it right."