Walsall FC ready to put the wind up Rotherham United

Come tomorrow evening, the Walsall manager will no doubt be delighted if a few more insults emerge from his counterpart's mouth, if they are prompted by the Saddlers becoming the first team since New Year's Day to beat the Millers.

For the second weekend running, Smith's team face opponents in wildly different form to themselves. The Saddlers haven't won for eight games, the Millers haven't lost for 11. Eight games ago, just two points separated the supposed play-off rivals, now the gap is 17.

• Watch Matt Maher preview Rotherham v Walsall

There was nothing between them at the Banks's in September when they played out a 1-1 draw. Afterwards, Evans made the "idiot" jibe when they differed over the referee. The former Crawley Town chief felt his side should have had a penalty and was rather forthright in his view when he discovered Smith thought the opposite. Not that the Saddlers boss is too fussed.

"That's one of the nicest things he's said about another manager," joked Smith. "I think he was frustrated with some decisions which didn't go his way and I thought they were correct.

"I certainly didn't take it to heart, it's just one of those things. He has probably come out with something which he regrets saying. It's one of those things."

Evans is a character who massively divides opinion in football circles but whatever your view, there can be no denying he generally puts a winning product on the pitch.

Promoted from League Two last season, the Millers have swiftly adapted to the higher level and along with Wolves, Brentford, Orient and Preston are part of a top five which has left the rest of the division behind.

The impression of a club on the rise is given further credence by the wonderfully-monikered 12,000-seater New York Stadium, which replaced their former Millmoor home.

Their rise has come of little surprise to Smith, who was tipping them as dark horses as early as last summer.

"I always thought they would be a team who would be up there," he said. "They are strong and have some really good players.

"They have taken the momentum from getting out of League Two into League One and are up there.

"They have just kept grinding out results."

Remarkably, when you consider their rotten form, the Saddlers actually closed the gap on sixth-placed Peterborough with Tuesday's 1-1 draw with Crewe.

But Smith has not hidden from the fact it was a below-par display in a game they had targeted victory says he wants to see an increased tempo in his side tomorrow.

"I think all over it's the general speed of the ball which is lacking," he said. "We are not moving it quick enough and we need to get back to that. We certainly had a lot of possession but it's easy for teams to bank up against you."

Walsall will welcome back Sam Mantom following his three game suspension and the midfielder is almost certain to take the place of Nicky Featherstone, who struggled against Crewe. Smith may also make changes for the third game running up front as he hunts more goals.

Rotherham are set to name an unchanged side from the one which defeated Oldham 2-0 on Tuesday.

ROTHERHAM: (4-4-2) Collin, Bradley, Morgan, Arnason, Skarz, Tavernier, Smallwood, Frecklington, Pringle, Agard, Revell Subs: Davis, Addison, O'Connor, Vuckic, Adams, Hitchcock, Shearer (gk).

WALSALL: (4-2-3-1) O'Donnell, Purkiss, Chambers J, Butler (c), Taylor, Chambers A, Mantom, Brandy, Sawyers, Lalkovic, Westcarr Subs: Benning, Downing, Baxendale, McQuilkin, Hewitt, Ngoo, Roberts (gk).