Smith eyes Wembley date

Dean Smith backed Walsall to book a historic date at Wembley after their JPT penalty shoot-out win over Tranmere.

The Saddlers, who have never played at the national stadium in their entire history, showed a spirited side as they came from two goals down at Rovers to force a Johnstone's Paint Trophy penalty shoot-out which they won 5-4. Even after Anthony Forde and Michael Cain had cancelled out Max Power and Kayode Odejayi's first-half efforts to leave the game 2-2 at the end of 90 minutes, Tranmere still had the chance to eliminate Smith's side when Ashley Grimes' spot-kick was saved by Owain Fon Williams. Yet Liam Ridehalgh's crucial penalty smacked against the crossbar and when Marc Laird saw his sudden-death try denied by Saddlers stopper Richard O'Donnell, Paul Downing kept his composure to send Smith's men into a Northern Area Final against either Notts County or Preston. On the prospect of Wembley, which is now just one tie away, Smith said: "It's a massive incentive but Notts County and Preston are two good teams so it's going to be really tough. "When those games come around, if our form is as it is at the moment, I fancy us against any team - over two legs especially. We'll enjoy the success of tonight but get rested and ready for Barnsley on Saturday." It seemed unlikely that Smith would be reflecting on a victory until Forde halved the deficit 27 minutes from time in driving rain and swirling wind. Power had a goal disallowed which would have put Micky Adams' side 3-0 up and O'Donnell pulled off an incredible stop to deny Janoi Donacien from a corner before Walsall staged their comeback. "I'm proud of the players for the application of the second half because it's so easy to go under at 2-0," added Smith. "I know what it means to a lot of people at the club. But we're not there yet, we've got two big games to go still." Adams focused on the positives of a Tranmere showing he dubbed "heroic" as the League Two strugglers almost upset a team playing in the tier above them. "We were so close," Adams said. "I thought it was a heroic performance from the group of lads because Walsall are a good side. They were clearly the favourites coming into the game but I think we've shown what we're all about. We need to take all the positives out of tonight and take that forward into our league campaign." The Rovers manager also absolved Ridehalgh and Laird from any blame for their misses from 12 yards, with the former inches away from sending Tranmere through had his effort been marginally lower. "There's no blame attached to any of the lads who missed penalties," Adams stressed. "They were big enough and brave enough to step forward. Six inches the other way, it's a goal and we're here celebrating."