Dean Smith: Job only half done for Walsall

Late goals from Anthony Forde and Tom Bradshaw earned the Saddlers a 2-0 win at Preston tonight in the first leg of the Johnstone's Paint Trophy Northern Area Final.

But Smith, was perhaps understandably, keen to stress the tie is only at the halfway stage, saying: "It has given us a fighting chance now.

"You would take 2-0 at half-time that is for sure but they are a really good team and we will have to make sure we are at our best again.

"We said before the game there would be no winners on the night. The result might record a win but it is more important over the two games.

"There is a trip to Wembley at the end of it and we are hoping it will be us."

While the Saddlers would eventually run out winners, they were indebted to goalkeeper Richard O'Donnell.

He pulled off two brilliant saves to deny Preston striker Jermaine Beckford, in a first-half the hosts dominated.

Walsall weathered the storm and after Forde swept home a 25 yard free-kick, Bradshaw pounced on a defensive error to increase the cushion.

Smith said: "We were fortunate to go in at half-time with the score 0-0. We started well enough and had a couple of half chances but then they took over the game.

"They were more competitive than us, won a lot of ball and put a lot of balls into the box which we had to defend.

"Fortunately, Richard O'Donnell has made a couple of terrific saves and in the second half we showed what we are about, we competed better."

Walsall have now won their last four televised games and should find out tomorrow whether the second leg will be screened live.