Walsall finish at home in JPT Northern final

The Saddlers will play either Notts County or Preston, who meet on Tuesday night at Meadow Lane to decide their opponents for the two-legged Northern final.

And Smith's side will be at the Banks's Stadium when it comes to the crunch of their area decider, which will start in early January, with the winner to take on their Southern counterpart.

But the Walsall boss has ordered his players to refocus on their League One campaign, after Tuesday's thrilling penalty shootout win at Tranmere left them just one tie from the club's first-ever Wembley final.

He said: "It won't be difficult at all. It's good that the players know it gives us a big Christmas period, knowing they've got to stay in the team if they want to play in these sort of games.

"It will be put to bed now. We will do a debrief on the Trophy but then concentrate on Barnsley on Saturday.

"I went to watch them on Sunday against Chester and Chester gave them a fright but that will be another tough game."

Saddlers chairman Jeff Bonser visited the dressing room at Prenton Park to congratulate the players on their victory over Rovers.

Smith said: "He's as chuffed as anyone. There are still a couple of games to go before we can get excited but he is really pleased.

"It gives us a live game as well. One of the legs of the area final will be live on TV and it gives everybody at the club a lift at a good time.

"He hasn't put any pressure on me at all but I will have a chat with him and I am sure we will mention it.

"It's great that we're only two games away from it but it was a close-run thing and we knew it would be."

Defender Paul Downing, who scored the winning penalty at Tranmere, said: "I'm sure not many people thought we could come back from 2-0 down and that's a credit to what's in the dressing room.

"And we've got to take that into the league for the rest of the season that if we are behind, we have that belief to get back into the game."