DESPITE having their League One status all-but retained with their draw against Crewe on Saturday, Walsall boss Dean Smith insists his side will not be taking it easy against Town tonight.

The Saddlers are now eight points clear of the bottom four and a positive result at the County Ground would see them guaranteed to start next season in same division.

Town’s result at the weekend ensured a finish no lower than fourth, but also effectively ended their chances of automatic promotion.

Both sides now have relatively little to play for until the end of the regular season. Town will be aiming to keep players fresh for the play-offs and Walsall may take advantage of their safety and start blooding youngsters.

However, Saddlers boss Smith insists his team will not be using the trip to Wiltshire to start planning their holidays.

“We won’t be taking it easy. The lads tried to win the game at Crewe on Saturday and we were the ones pressing for the winner at the end,” said Smith.

“I think we’ve had only one defeat in the last seven or eight league games, which has been impressive. Defensively we’ve been very solid.

“They are a bunch that are focused anyway. They just want to keep doing well – we are still 15th in the league and they would like to finish higher.”

After Town’s shock defeat to Yeovil on Saturday, Smith is wary of the wounded animal that awaits them at the County Ground.

Swindon dismissed the Saddlers on Boxing Day, triumphing 4-1 in one of their best away performances. Smith wants his side to forget about that and instead draw on the memory of Walsall’s win at SN1 last season.

“Swindon got beat on Saturday so it’s going to be very tough for them to make the top two now, still not mathematically impossible, but tough,” Smith added.

“It would certainly be nice to produce a performance like we did last season and come away with a result.”