Reece Smith: Walsall have the potential to create "something special"

Reece Smith believes Walsall have the potential to create “something special” under Lee Grant this season.

The Saddlers winger scored his first goal with the opener during their 3-2 win over Accrington Stanley at Bescot on Saturday and also added an assist for Aaron Pressley to score the third.

That extended their unbeaten start to the season, after collecting seven points from the first nine available in League Two.

Smith: “We can build something really special here”

“I feel like it really could be [a special season]. I think we’ve got such a good team and such a young, hungry team,” Smith declared.

“Everyone wants to push, everyone wants to go hard, so everyone is all in.

“It feels really refreshing for me as a player because I feel like we can build something really special here.

“Because some of the lads that we’ve got are top quality players and higher than this level.

“I feel like we do really believe that and we’ve got really great belief in the group.”

Harrison Burke wore the armband in the absence of James Connolly and marked the occasion with a powerful header on the cusp of half-time.

“Nobody’s ego is getting in the way” - Smith on Walsall’s leaders

And Smith praised the leaders in this new-look group and has been pleased with how well everybody has integrated.

“There are brilliant leaders. We’ve got Burkey [Harrison Burke] and James Connolly, although we call him Beefy, but there are loads more,” he explained.

“Mason [Hancock] as well, the whole of the back-line, the midfield with Sven [Sprangler] and even Isaac [Moore], he’s a young lad but is a good leader and wants to drive us forward.

“Obviously with the attacking lads as well, it’s just a good group and nobody’s ego is getting in the way of the rest of the team.

“That makes it easier as well because you don’t need somebody rollocking someone every week.”

Walsall had to show aggression to get over the line against Accrington Stanley and everybody is once again fighting for their place ahead of the trip to Crewe Alexandra on Tuesday night.

“Massive” - Smith hails Walsall’s competitive edge

Although the bond within the squad is strong, Smith feels that any team that wants to be successful needs to have an edge, and he has sensed that since joining the club in the summer.

“You want that edge. You don’t want training and everything just to be nice. You need that edge and arguments if they need to be had,” he continued.

“Not arguing for the sake of it and creating a toxic environment. It’s keeping it competitive, keeping everyone in check and making sure standards don’t drop.

“That’s a massive thing. You need that edge in any team if you’re going to win, you can’t be nice all of the time.

“It’s nice when you get on off-the-pitch, which a lot of us do, but there is a good edge to it too.”

Rico Browne will be fighting to be fit after he was withdrawn at half-time on the weekend with a calf issue.

Roman Dixon remains a doubt with a knock, while Alex Pattison (hamstring) and Harry Williams (Achilles) remain absent.