Smith looking upwards

Walsall boss Dean Smith is hopeful his side have turned a corner after beating Notts County 2-1 for a first away win of the season.

The Magpies were on an 11-game unbeaten run in all competitions but handed the Saddlers the early initiative when Gary Jones turned the ball into his own net. Garry Thompson converted Stephen McLaughlin's cross just after half an hour to level proceedings but Notts could not hold on to take something from the game as Tom Bradshaw struck a 64th-minute penalty. Referee Simon Hooper's original decision that Haydn Hollis' handball occurred outside the box was overturned by his assistant, but Smith insisted his troops deserved all three points. "How it looked to me was that it was a definite handball," said Smith. "The referee has given a free-kick on the edge of the box but then I saw him point to the spot. "He is wired up to his assistant so we don't hear what they say. He's pointed to the penalty spot and it's the first we've had in a long time. "We were pleased to come away from home and win. It's been a long time coming. "Have we turned a corner? There's been that many corners, but the encouraging thing is I have a fully fit squad now. "But the pleasing thing is that we showed a great deal of character. They have kept belief in what we are doing, which has been important. It was a tough ask to come to a team who are flying but we showed that we were the better team in parts. "I've got options now and it shows that we have a really good squad. There are tough games to come, though." A first defeat in 12 was tough for Shaun Derry to take, but the Notts manager admitted that Walsall had deserved their victory. "If I am honest, anything other than a loss would have been the wrong result," he said. "It was handball, but it was fine lines - right on the edge of the box. The ref appeared to change his mind and I went to ask him because, coincidentally, he happened to be there as I was clapping the fans. "I can't stand here and say that we deserved anything other than a loss. It would be unfair of me to say Walsall didn't deserve it. "They played well and they've always got that capability to beat top teams. When you find yourself in the top-six, people raise the bar against you. "We didn't raise ours and our decision making on the ball was what let us down. In the second half I thought we were pretty poor." Breaking news, transfer gossip, line ups and goal alerts from your football club - delivered direct to your mobile. Sign up for Sky Sports Alerts