Dean Smith: Walsall can reach the top 10

Tonight's 5-0 win at the Banks's put the Saddlers seven points clear of the bottom four and left the manager confident they are safe from the drop.

After a campaign in which they have struggled for goals, Smith's side finally exploded into life thanks to Jordy Hiwula's double and further strikes from Kieron Morris, Andy Taylor and Jordan Cook.

And Smith felt the performance was much closer to the standards his team need to set on a more regular basis.

He said: "That is what we are hoping for, what we are about and what we have played at times certainly over last season.

"It has not been consistent and that (the performance) is what we need to move forward."

With four games to go, Smith revealed the players are now targeting a top ten finish.

He added: "I'm being told we are only four points off tenth with a game in hand.

"The players want to get as high as they can and finish as high as they can in the league.

"We have another big game at Crewe who are fighting for their lives but it certainly gives us another big gap and teams below have got to win every game to go over us."

Hiwula's first-half opener put the Saddlers in control before he added a stunning second.

Morris' goal was also a contender for goal of the season before Taylor and Cook completed the rout late on.

And Smith said: "It was an excellent performance throughout from everybody and then the subs come on and Cookie scored as well, which is really pleasing.

"To win 5-0 without Tom Bradshaw is excellent. We know as a group we have not scored enough goals, hence the position we are in the league.

"But the last two games are the only two games I have been able to choose from a full squad of players."