Dean Smith praises Walsall's clinical edge

The Saddlers recorded their first home win for almost two months as they saw off the Dale 3-2 at the Banks's Stadium last night – moving them to within two points of the top six.

But they were made to sweat, seeing a 3-0 half-time lead reduced to just a single goal just past the hour mark.

And Smith said: "The first-half performance was outstanding. Were we hanging on a little bit at the end? There were a lot of balls going up and we were a little bit loose on the ball.

"But we have scored three goals at home and won the game. The object was to get three points and that was the most important thing.

"The first half – we have played like that against Gillingham, against Scunthorpe and Swindon. The difference this time is we have scored three good goals.

"When you are on top you need to take your chances and we did that."

James O'Connor's first goal for the club was the trigger for a nine-minute spell in which the hosts also netted through Anthony Forde and Jordy Hiwula.

But goals from Peter Vincenti and Ashley Eastham brought Rochdale racing back. Smith added: "We had to defend a lot of balls into their front two.

"Calvin Andrew is a big lad and Vincenti is a big lad and we had to defend a lot of first balls and second balls. It was always going to be the case.

"The spell we had it could have been more than three the way we played. When they got the first goal back there were maybe a few nerves crept in then."