Dean Smith feels his Walsall side have a tough assignment ahead of them when they meet Morecambe in the Johnstone's Paint Trophy First Round.
The Saddlers are currently on a six-game winning streak and will equal a club record for consecutive victories if they can overcome the Shrimps, but Smith feels that their good form gives their Sky Bet League 2 opponents added motivation to knock them out.“It’s going to be a tough game,” Smith told Walsall’s official site.
“Morecambe are a hard-working team. We had them watched at Portsmouth last week – they got a 3-3 draw.
"They’ll want to progress as well, and they might see us a bit of a scalp with the run we’re on."
The Saddlers made it to the final of the competition last season, where they were beaten 2-0 by Bristol City, and Smith says that his team has a good understanding of the prize on offer if they can excel in the competition again.
"We know the rewards at the end of it [the JPT], with our first trip to Wembley last season.
"Every game you go into is important, and we want to win each game.
"There’s a hunger and a desire to be successful.”
Read more: Johnstone’s Paint Trophy Round 1 preview
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