Walsall boss Jon Whitney: We were made to pay for poor start
Walsall boss Jon Whitney felt his team was made to pay for a lacklustre opening 15 minutes after they fell to a 2-0 loss at rivals Shrewsbury.
In an intriguing derby in Shropshire, goals from Alex Rodman and Abu Ogogo saw promotion chasing Town run out deserved winners.
After clinching a trip to Wembley in the final of the Checkatrade Trophy earlier in the week, Paul Hurst’s side flew out the traps with Rodman giving them the lead after just six minutes.
The home side also created a number of other goal scoring opportunities in the early stages before Nicky Devlin and Luke Leahy hit the woodwork for the Saddlers.
And Whitney conceded his team started too slowly.
“The first 15 minutes we gave them too much respect and we really emphasised that before the game,” the boss said.
“Once you give Shrewsbury a 1-0 lead, they don’t concede many goals. They do the basics really well, better than anyone else in this league.
“We had some half chances. We hit the post and the bar. And then they get that one late on.
“But the disappointing thing is that first goal and the timing of it. It gave us a mountain to climb. You can’t give a team like Shrewsbury a goal in the first 10 minutes because that is what they hang on to.”
Despite their poor start, Walsall did rally and improved as the first half wore on with the game proving more even from that point on.
But while Whitney took encouragement from some of their play, he said his side can’t giving opposing teams a head start.
“I was encouraged by the way we responded to going a goal down,” the boss continued.
“But for me it’s easier to play when you are a goal down. I want us to play when the pressure is on and it’s nil-nil. There is no expectancy when it’s 1-0. I’d like us to start playing right from the off.
“We knew we could create chances and I think it was a game of half-chances. The pitch was very lively. But I thought they did the basics better than we did.”
During the game, some travelling Saddlers fans unveiled a banner calling for Whitney to be moved on.
And the boss said he can understand their frustrations.
“It’s understandable the fans are upset,” Whitney added.
“I feel it like they do. We have just got beat 2-0 in a local derby so I can’t stand here and take too many positives from that.
“There is a lot of frustration but it’s been the same all year. All I can do is try to get this team to pick up points.”
