Dean Smith: Quick start needed for Saddlers tonight
Dean Smith will demand a quick start from Walsall against Rochdale tonight – after claiming his team have been "unfortunate" in recent home games.
The Saddlers have not won at the Banks's Stadium for five games.
But manager Smith, whose team are unbeaten in seven league games on the road, believes fortune has not always favoured them in front of their own fans.
"I do think we have been unfortunate in recent home games," he said.
"I always say you can't control the result and only your performance.
"But last Sunday against Gillingham I thought we should have been out of sight at half-time.
"It is all about getting that early goal. If we get it we can kick on.
"The Scunthorpe game was similar where we had all of the play before conceding two quick goals.
"We got back into the game only to concede from a penalty which never should have been given. We need those kind of things to start falling for us at home."
Smith is again without James Chambers and Tom Bradshaw due to hamstring injuries, meaning his only selection issue is whether to stick with Ashley Grimes up front or hand on-loan Jordy Hiwula his first start following a scoring debut at Doncaster.
