Smith hails Saddlers' spirit

Smith: Praised team comeback

Walsall manager Dean Smith believes his side deserved their point after finding a last-minute equaliser to earn a 1-1 draw at Leyton Orient.

Smith watched them trail to 10-man after Dean Cox had gave the home side the lead after 34 minutes but five minutes later Solomon Taiwo was red-carded after a two-footed tackle on Florent Cuvelier.

But it was left to Saddlers central defender Olly Lancashire to grab a point with his late header.

"Yes we left it late but you always believe a goal will come," said Smith. "I thought their goal was a foul and I feel a bit aggrieved about that. Their player pushed into our keeper, although I would have liked one of our defenders to have dealt with the situation better.

"When they went down to 10 men, to be fair to them I thought they battened down the hatches really well and got men behind the ball and worked really hard.

"We never had any really clear-cut chances and couldn't break them down although I did think we should have had a penalty when Alex Nicholls was fouled. But it was a great header at the end from Olly Lancashire and it's great to have the point."