Award for the gaffer...
WALSALL boss, Dean Smith, has been named League One Manager of the Month for August.Smith's Saddlers are top of League One - still unbeaten - having accumulated 13 points from our opening five fixtures.
Since an opening day draw at home to Oldham (1-1), Walsall have won four successive league matches - against Southend (2-0), Rochdale (2-1), Coventry (2-1) and Blackpool (4-0).
On receiving the award, Smith said: "It’s really pleasing but it’s not just for me - it’s for the whole team.
“The players have to go out there and perform to get results.
“And for the staff behind me – this is for all of them as well.
“It’s not simply an individual accolade, because you can’t get results without the rest of the team working well together.
“It’s really pleasing and it just shows that we’re doing well at the moment.”
The Manager of the Month award is said to be ‘cursed’ – but Smith, who also won the accolade in January 2013, isn’t concerned.
“I don’t believe in that at all!” said Smith.
“I’ve won it before and it certainly didn’t curse me then because we went on a great run.
"Hopefully we can have another really good run and continue the form we’re in.”
Walsall return to league action against Bury tomorrow afternoon, and Smith is eager to build on an encouraging opening month of the campaign.
“I’ve been really impressed with our start,” said Smith.
“I thought we had a good pre-season - I was pleased with what I saw and how we played - and we’ve taken that form into the league.
“To win six games on the spin (in all competitions) was incredible.
“We’ve won four straight games in the league and we want to make that five against Bury.”
Saddlers midfielder, Sam Mantom, was nominated for League One Player of the Month, but the award was given to Coventry forward, Adam Armstrong.