Smith hails matchwinner Bradshaw

Dean Smith praised the finishing ability of top scorer Tom Bradshaw after he bagged the only goal in a 1-0 win over Chesterfield.

The goal ended the Saddlers' poor run of three successive defeats and lifted them out of the League One relegation zone, while extending Chesterfield's winless run to four games. Smith said: "Tom has an awful lot of energy and kept the two centre-backs busy. They never had two minutes peace. He took his goal really well, lifting it over the keeper. "It's nice to come in and say we deserved to win, because too many times I have said that and we haven't had the points. We should have had seven points from the last three games." Bradshaw had missed a great chance to head in Andy Taylor's perfect 21st-minute cross, putting the ball to close to keeper Tommy Lee. But he made no mistake with the winner, dinking his sixth goal of the season over Lee after a clever move between Anthony Forde and Michael Cain, on loan from Leicester. Chesterfield played some fine attacking football, but failed to make it count in the final third, and even in five minutes of stoppage time Sam Clucas sent a header flashing past the near post, then substitute Gary Roberts dragged a shot wide with only keeper Richard O'Donnell to beat after being set up by Ian Evatt. Saddlers boss Smith said: "Chesterfield are a good team, and I said that before the game, but I felt we had the better chances and didn't take them in the first half. But the lads kept plugging away. "I never lost belief in the players. We didn't deserve to lose at Crawley on Tuesday and we should be sitting here with seven points rather than three." After a very good start to the season, Chesterfield have suddenly hit a poor run of results, and manager Paul Cook said: "It's just not going our way at the moment, but we have got to give Walsall credit. "These things come to test you, but we have to stand up and be counted, not feel sorry for ourselves. "I felt we were not in any trouble in the game until the goal, then we became a little gung-ho. "But you have to give Walsall credit. He (Dean Smith) has been a good manager in this league for some time, and they have beaten Preston and drawn with Bristol City here." Striker Eoin Doyle was scoring goals for fun earlier in the season and has 15 to his credit, but he rarely troubled the Walsall defence. His strike partner, Sam Clucas, always looked the more likely to get a goal, but his finishing was not up to scratch on the day or the Spireites would have had at least a draw. Breaking news, transfer gossip, line ups and goal alerts from your football club - delivered direct to your mobile. Sign up for Sky Sports Alerts