Walsall loss down to errors for boss

Under-fire Walsall boss Chris Hutchings has admitted his side paid for their mistakes against Peterborough.

The Saddlers were left bemoaning their "Achilles heel" after conceding twice from set-pieces as Posh ran out 3-1 winners at the Banks's Stadium last night.

Julian Gray's second-half header gave the hosts hope after quick-fire strikes from Ryan Bennett and Arron Davies put Posh in control.

But Kelvin Langmead's 55th minute strike, just two minutes after Gray's goal, ended the Saddlers' revival and kept them bottom of League One.

And Hutchings, who faced more calls to quit from fans, conceded they cannot keep shooting themselves in the foot after Posh scored three goals from their four shots on target.

He said: "If you make mistakes you will get punished and we've got to make sure we get through this period.

"The first was a needless free-kick, which we didn't defend well, and it's been a bit of an Achilles heel at times.

"With the second, they hit us on the counter attack but I thought Ryan McGivern should have just returned the ball after a mix-up with Julian Gray and the third was another set piece.

"It's very disappointing after the way we played. If you look at the stats we'd come out on top in every one.

"I counted 13 shots for us in the first half and they had four. It was really disappointing, we then got back into the game and then conceded within two minutes.

"But the lads gave their all, we created chances and got the balls into the box but it's not going for us at the moment.

"It's hard to take when you play that well, which was probably the best we've played at home all season."

Hutchings handed an instant debut to Liam Dickinson after the striker signed on a month's loan from Barnsley just hours before the clash.

The Saddlers boss was pleased with the new-boy's contribution despite his new surroundings.

He said: "We got him signed in time, he's a big handful and he'll chase in behind.

"He's a bit like the Bas Savages, Enoch Showunmis and Kayode Odejayis of this world, but he can score goals and he'll be disappointed he didn't do it last night."

The manager will now chase Barnsley to persuade them to let Dickinson play in Saturday's FA Cup trip to Fleetwood.

He said: "It's something we'll be looking at straight away. We wanted to get the game out of the way first and foremost but I'll be making some calls."

Defeat was the Saddlers' 10th in 15 league games this season and heaped the pressure on Hutchings.

But Peterborough manager Gary Johnson offered words of comfort to his opposite number and hoped he would be given the time.

He said: "It's all doom and gloom at the moment, but they look like they have some good players and I can understand why people are saying they shouldn't be down there.

"I respect Chris and I know him really well, so it will be nice if he gets the opportunity to turn this group around."

But Johnson disagreed with Walsall's assessment of the match and felt his team deserved the points.

He added: "In my opinion, 3-1 was a fair reflection of the game. It was a big win for us."