Strikers prove too hot to handle

Chris Hutchings admitted Walsall were out-gunned by Southampton because they never dealt with their dangermen.

The Saddlers missed a chance to jump into the League One play-off spots after a battling 3-1 defeat at the Banks's Stadium.

Hutchings' former Wigan charge David Connolly scored one and made two as the Saints put their hosts to the sword – despite Darren Byfield's 100th career goal.

And the Saddlers chief says his side, who dropped to eighth, were beaten by the better team after Dean Hammond and Rickie Lambert also netted.

"A bit of quality with Connolly and Lambert was the difference. Not many people have that unless you're the top teams and they have a lot more money to spend," he said.

"The front two were a handful and we took the brunt of it. When it's tight that bit of quality shines through and you've got to be tight at the back and competitive all over the pitch. But a little quality comes through at the end of the day.

"At half-time I said we didn't deserve to be 2-0 down but the quality of finishing was the difference. When we got into areas our final ball wasn't there and we didn't work the keeper hard enough but that's what you get when you're playing against good players."

Hutchings was assistant manager in Connolly's time at Wigan and the striker opened the scoring just after the half hour from which the Saddlers never recovered and the boss says they cannot let quality players off the hook.

"One ball, Connolly is away, we've switched off, don't know where he is and we learned a severe lesson," he said.

"With quality players at this level you've got to concentrate and know where they are all the time otherwise they punish you."

In-form Steve Jones was shackled by a robust Saints defence, never getting a chance to threaten and Hutchings knows his wing wonder will be targeted after eight goals in 11 games.

He said: "Jonah has done great for us in recent weeks and it wasn't his day. He couldn't get at the full-back and they doubled up on him quickly and stopped him as a threat.

"You expect it because he's created goals and scored. They've done their homework and did a good job on him.

"Sometimes it's up to other players to pick the mantle up and produce a bit of quality when you need it."

Saints boss Alan Pardew, who saw his team climb five places to 15th, was full of praise for his side after they stretched their unbeaten run to 10 games.

He said: "It looked like it was going to be an ugly game but we turned up the power. We can turn up the power and jump a level above most teams in the division, that's what won us the game.

"We were disciplined and strong second half. I'm disappointed to concede but I can't take away the players attitude to this game. It was top drawer."