Express & Star

Richard Money admitted Jermaine Beckford was the difference between Leeds and Walsall - and highlighted the gap in the respective budgets of the two clubs.

“Walsall versus Leeds is only ever going to be a tough ask isn’t it?” Money said.

“If you compare the budgets and compare the players it’s always going to be a tough ask and the fact that we’re on the same pitch and we’re above them in the table prior to the match is testimony I think to the season that we’re having.

“At the end of the day, the centre forward was the difference between the two teams.

“I thought we had periods where we played well and moved the ball around, but we couldn’t really open them up in the way that we wanted to.

“But the top and bottom of it is that we couldn’t handle a very good player, who is obviously too good for this division.”

Money also admitted Tommy Mooney’s missed opportunity was the turning point in the match.

“I think that if Tommy had equalised then the game would have changed,” Money said.

“Because I think that chance came during a period when we had 10 minutes of sustained pressure and to have gone 1-1 then would have made a big difference to them and to their mentality and to the crowd’s mentality.

“It was a big moment in the game but we missed it and we move on.” Money stressed that they have overachieved, given the size and financial muscle of the club compared to others in the league.

“The reality is that we’re going to be a League One club again next year – at least,” Money said.

“I can’t tell you the comparisons in budgets that other clubs have and we don’t have – I’m not interested really.

“But that’s the reality and we’ve come to massive club with a massive support base and a big stadium and we’ve given it our best shot.”

Money admitted that Walsall had lost to the better team on the day and that they’re looking to get back on track today against Crewe.

“We’re always going to be up against it coming to somewhere like Leeds,” he said.

“We’re just very proud of ourselves that we gave them a battering at home, but couldn’t quite come off the pitch with a win because of a 94th minute equaliser, when we absolutely murdered them, but we lost to a better team today, pure and simple.

“It’s not what’s happened today that’s going to determine where we finish, it’s what’s going to happen in the games that we think we’ve got a realistic chance of winning and Crewe is the first of those for sure.”

After being impressed by Beckford, Money believes the Leeds striker can go far in the next couple of years.

“I would think Beckford will go into the Championship with Leeds next year and possibly into the Premier League with Leeds the following year,” he said.

He also sees Leeds as one of the best teams in League One and that they are likely to be promoted.

“They’ve got a bit to do because they’ve lost 15 points,” Money said. “But Swansea are the best team in the division arguably and Leeds are the second best team in the division arguably – along with Doncaster and one or two others.”