Dean Keates: Walsall aren't helping themselves
Dean Keates says all Walsall’s players must shoulder the blame for the team’s poor defensive record.
The Saddlers take on Sunderland in the FA Cup tomorrow just a week after the two teams played out a 2-2 draw at the Banks’s Stadium in League One.
Walsall enter the tie having conceded two or more goals in nine of their last 10 outings.
But Keates believes the majority of those goals conceded have been down to errors that could have been prevented.
And he told his players they have got to start giving themselves a chance of winning football matches.
“We are not giving ourselves a chance to win football matches,” the boss said.
“You can’t be expected to go and score three goals every time you step out onto the pitch.
“When you are not being clinical in the opposition 18-yard box, and when you are shipping goals in your 18-yard box, you are facing an uphill battle straight away.
“Football is all about moments. And we have not been clinical enough with our moments.
“We have to better. Would I say we have been beaten by the opposition? Probably not.
“Other than the first half of the Burton game, we are not helping ourselves.
“The goals are coming from our mistakes. Teams aren’t having to earn goals against us at the moment. It’s not the back four that’s accountable for that, it’s the whole team.”
