Jon Whitney: Walsall beaten by the better side
Walsall boss Jon Whitney conceded his side were beaten by the better team after they fell to a 2-0 loss at Wigan.
Paul Cook’s men ran out convincing winners at the DW Stadium with ex-Saddler Will Grigg coming back haunt his former club by netting a brace.
Both goals arrived in contentious circumstances with goalkeeper Mark Gillespie injured in the build-up to the first.
James Wilson then fouled Grigg to give away a penalty in the second half with referee David Coote pointing to the spot after a long debate with his linesman.
But Whitney felt the referee got both decisions right, and conceded overall Wigan were the better side.
“We were beaten by the better team,” the boss said.
“That is why they are one of the favourites. They have got threats all over the pitch. But we didn’t contain them well enough.
“I thought we were getting on top after the first 10 minutes. And then their goal has come after a spell of 15/20 minutes where we were keeping it well.
“Then we got hit by the goal and the response wasn’t great.
“But we can’t hide away from the fact that we cannot concede another penalty. It kills you.
“You are not going to come here and keeping coming back from two-goals down. That is something we have to really look at. It’s not acceptable.”
Wigan’s penalty was the sixth the Saddlers have conceded this season.
“I thought it was a penalty,” Whitney continued,
“I think there were a few errors in the build-up.
"And we will look at why we have got ourselves in a position where he has to make that tackle.
“That’s the important thing for us as coaches.
“We have now given away eight penalties this season. Of course it’s a worry and I can understand why people are going to talk about it.
“What we have got to do as coaches is get on the training ground and work hard to put that right.”
Goalkeeper Mark Gillespie picked up a head injury in the build-up to Griggs’s opener following a collision with Nick Powell.
But Whitney didn’t see anything wrong with the challenge.
He said: “I thought it was a 50/50 challenge I would not be happy with my striker if he didn’t go for that ball.”
