Dean Smith: Walsall will cope at Port Vale
Boss Dean Smith has no doubts Walsall's defence can cope with the anticipated aerial bombardment from Port Vale on Saturday.
The Saddlers new-look defence, shorn of departed skipper Andy Butler, will get an instant test of their toughness in a League One opener against a Vale side renowned for their direct style of play.
Butler's exit raised concerns of how the backline might cope at set pieces without his considerable presence.
James O'Connor, who is likely to feature at right-back, has been the Saddlers only summer signing at the back and is not viewed as a direct replacement for the former skipper.
Despite conceding from dead ball situations in warm-up games against Torquay, Alfreton, Leicester and Villa, Smith took heart from the performance at Mansfield on Saturday when the Saddlers were asked to cope with something of a barrage.
"Defensively I'm happy," said Smith. "I know there have been questions about Andy's aerial ability and conceding goals from set pieces.
"But they don't come any harder than Mansfield away where they stick a lot of balls into the box and we dealt with that very comfortably.
"People have to step up to the plate and Paul Downing has done that.
"One thing we have done is add to the defensive line and we have a new goalkeeper in Craig (MacGillivray) to back-up Richard (O'Donnell) and push him.
"Jimmy O'Connor has come in and can play anywhere across the back four and young Rico Henry who is only 17 and has impressed me.
"There was one going out in Andy Butler and the challenge was to replace that, I think we have done that."
Former Albion full-back James Chambers or Dean Holden look the most likely candidates to partner Downing at the back on Saturday.
Smith is confident either can deal with 28-year-old Vale striker Tom Pope, who netted 16 times last season including one against the Saddlers at the Banks's.
"They have Tom Pope up there but he is not someone we have not played against before," added Smith.
"It does not bother me at all, whether it' s James Chambers who plays centre-half – and we are forgetting Dean Holden, who didn't play at all last season, who has been fantastic in pre-season.
"He came back really fit and will be pushing for a place.
"But if it is to be James, he looks like he can play there with his eyes closed – he looks like he has been playing there all his life."
