Fans support for Walsall's Romaine Sawyers

The manager admits he was disappointed to hear the 22-year-old's substitution met by ironic cheers from sections of the home crowd after a below-par display in Tuesday's 2-1 defeat to Yeovil.

But he has since received messages from supporters backing Sawyers to turn his form around.

"On Tuesday night Romaine didn't play well, but he was not the only one. I thought there were a few who weren't at their best," said Smith.

"I was disappointed with the ironic cheers and he will be as well, because he is a talented player and is one who every manager who comes in after the game talks about.

"It was only a minority and the pleasing thing is I have had emails since from a number of supporters backing him and he can be a really good player for us.

"He didn't look confident in front of goal and that certainly won't help him. We will have a chat with him and I think the big thing is all the players are behind him and the staff are behind him because we know what a talented lad he is."

Sawyers has not scored since January and Smith added: "Maybe he needs one to come off his backside and go in. He was within six inches of being the hero and almost made one for himself against Yeovil."