Darrell Clarke has to see more from Walsall
Walsall manager Darrell Clarke has issued a warning to his players to "step up to the plate" after their second loss in as many games.
Their 3-0 home loss to Salford was followed up by a 3-1 away defeat at Leyton Orient in a game of two halves.
The Saddlers had perhaps one of their best performances of the season in the opening 45 minutes, with Stuart Sinclair's goal the difference at the break.
But it was followed up by one of their worst 45 minute performances in the second half as they conceded three goals.
Now, Clarke has said his players will have the opportunity to prove themselves in the coming weeks but that some of them need to show him more before the club takes action in the transfer market.
"They're an honest set of lads that are working hard but still quite a few of my players have got to step up to the plate," he said.
"It's the second quarter of the season, we got 15 points in the first quarter, I'll make four, five changes, no bones about it.
"They have to show me that they're going to be top seven League Two players and they'll be a few that fall by the wayside.
"They'll get them opportunities in the next 11 games to show me in the second quarter before the window opens that they're capable of getting promotion.
"I look at one or two of them, knocking on my door, say they want to play, they should be playing, but they need to show me more.
"They're not showing me no-where near enough to be honest.
"This job is going to be a big rebuilding job but I'm ruthless when I need to be, 11 games, we have to turn our home form around.
"I think we'll pick up points away from home, I really do, I genuinely believe that, so we have to get focused on our next game."
Midfielder Danny Guthrie returned to the starting line-up against Orient after missing the Salford game through injury.
However, just after the hour mark on Saturday he came off with another knock.
When asked about the extent of the injury, Clarke said it was still too early to tell.
"I don't know, it's too early," he said.
"Danny's an important player for us, you can see what he brings to the table, that bit of quality, on the front foot.
"But we have to do a lot better as a group, it's not about one player, so we'll assess his injury after."
