Jackson Smith took his Walsall chance - they can't let him slip through their fingers
On a bleak winter evening in Barrow, Owen Evans compounded Walsall’s misery when he stumbled off injured in the 33rd minute.
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Jackson Smith was thrust into the spotlight but was unable to prevent the Saddlers from succumbing to a 2-0 defeat in Cumbria.
That extended Walsall’s winless run to six games and left them languishing in 19th place.
Optimism was at an all-time low but Smith’s introduction helped reinvigorate Walsall over the coming weeks, writes George Bennett.
His auspicious performance in the forgettable goalless draw at non-league Alfreton Town in the FA Cup was an early taster of things to come.