Dean Smith demands a reaction from Walsall at Yeovil

The Saddlers head to Somerset looking to snap a four game run which has delivered just one point and almost extinguished any hope of making a late season play-off push.

Saturday's 2-0 defeat at home to Leyton Orient saw them slip seven points adrift of sixth place.

With the bottom four now just six points behind them, Smith is eager for a response against the rock bottom Glovers to ease fears of a late season slide.

He said: "The performance on Saturday, if I could describe it in one word, was unusual. But it is all about what you do next.

"The players know it was not good enough and that we need a response at Yeovil.

"As long as we keep unusual performances to a minimum I'm confident we will start climbing the table.

"You can only work one game at a time and the next one is Yeovil, so that is where we are concentrating."

The Glovers are themselves winless for four games and desperate for points to kick-start a survival challenge.

Smith added: "They have shown a bit of resurgence under Terry Skiverton and every game is tough in this league.

"But we have been alright on the road this season and have only been beaten once in four months - last week at Preston.

"It is up to us to try and start another run on our travels."

Once again Smith may be forced to shuffle the pack up front with Anthony Forde doubtful after missing Saturday's defeat with a recurrent groin problem.

Jordan Cook is also rated as "50/50" after being forced off in the second-half.

The one bright spot on the injury front was the return to training yesterday of Sam Mantom, last year's player of the season who has missed virtually all the current campaign with a knee injury.

Mantom could feature in next Tuesday's reserve game against Morecambe at Chasetown's Scholars Ground.

Smith added: "He is going to need game time, it is just good to have him back training."