Walsall: Saddlers manager Dean Smith excited by win at Rochdale

Walsall manager Dean Smith is pleased at getting through to the Johnstone's Paint Trophy regional quarter-finals for the first time since he took charge.

Summer signing Mathieu Manset's 23rd-minute winner - his first goal for the club - saw the Saddlers safely into the hat for Saturday's draw, just three weeks after losing 4-0 at Spotland in League One.

And Smith was thrilled with his players: "It was nice to see Mathieu Manset get off the mark," he told BBC WM 95.6.

"That was a really good result for us.

"We knew they were a good team. We found that out a few weeks ago when they beat us 4-0 here. But we came with a different plan and tactically we got it right.

"They put a lot of good balls into the box but we restricted them, got some good blocks in and frustrated them. We kept them at bay and protected the goalkeeper."