Adam Chambers: Walsall will stay strong

The skipper admitted the performance in the Johnstone's Paint Trophy final was below the Saddlers' usual standards.

But he believes they have the character to respond over the remaining nine games of the League One season.

He said: "It just wasn't to be. It's different to what a lot of our young players are used to.

"I hope we can come out of this stronger. We need to use this as motivation for the rest of the season and going forward to next season as well.

"The players will take a lot from it. A lot of young lads have their career to look forward to and this will give them the drive to get back here and experience more things like this."

The Saddlers next head to Chesterfield on Saturday to resume their league campaign.

Results over the weekend mean they are now just four points clear of the League One drop zone and the skipper admits there is little time to dwell on their Wembley disappointment.

Chambers said: "We have to dust ourselves down and get back to league action. We have to make sure we get back to form in the league.

"I would imagine it will take a few days to shake off this game, the fact we were below our standards is the disappointing thing."

Tom Bradshaw admits the Bristol City challenge ultimately proved one step too far for Walsall in the JPT final.

The striker believes the Saddlers would have needed to be at the very top of their game to stand any chance of beating the League One leaders.

Steve Cotterill's side ran out comfortable 2-0 winners and Bradshaw said: "They are a very good team so unless you are at the very top of your game, you are always going to struggle.

"They are ten points clear at the top for a reason. It is not just us who have ended up being beaten like that by them this season. It is just unfortunate we could not be at our very, very best."

The Saddlers were backed by a travelling army of close to 30,000 supporters who made their way south.

Bradshaw said: "I can't thank the fans enough. It was unbelievable support.

"We are just disappointed we couldn't bring the cup home for them. I think the fans enjoyed the whole cup run.

"We have not had easy opposition on the way here – Rochdale, Sheffield United or Preston. It was a tough route to get here and maybe one step too far."

Bradshaw also paid tribute to Saddlers physio Jon Whitney after revealing he had been given just a ten per cent playing in the final early last week, when he suffered another hamstring injury.

The striker has spent five spells out of the side with hamstring problems during the season, but played an hour at Wembley before being substituted.

He added: "Everyone is disappointed," he added. "We have got to the final which is a great achievement. We came here to win and that didn't happen.

"They are a great team and you can't take that away from them. They scored early and that put us on the back foot which didn't help.

"Does it hurt more than normal? Of course. You are at Wembley, you want to win because all your family is here.

"It is a shame for the fans, the management, the chairman and the fans but it is not through a lack of effort. Everyone put in their all and it just wasn't enough."

Former Walsall hero Jimmy Walker felt the Saddlers just lacked the extra "five to ten per cent" to upset Bristol City.

The keeper, who played more than 500 games for the club in two spells, stressed the players should be proud of their endeavours in the club's first date at Wembley.

But they could not match the extra quality showed by the League One table-toppers.

Walker, summarising the match on Saddlers Player, said: "We have just been five to ten per cent off really testing this Bristol City side.

"It would have been unbelievable to get a result against a side as strong as Bristol. You can't take anything away from them.

"But every Saddlers player has had a real go, everybody can look themselves in the mirror and feel proud of what they have achieved.

"It's not the result we wanted but it's been a fantastic occasion."

Walker, however, admitted Walsall did not help themselves with the manner of the two goals they conceded. Both came from far-post crosses into the six-yard box.

He said: "You can't give teams like Bristol City that kind of leg-up. They are a very good side, well drilled.

"It was always going to be a big ask but Saddlers did themselves no favours with the way they conceded the goals."

Now, Walker hopes Walsall can use the positives of such a day-out, rather than the heartache of the result, to inspire them for the remaining nine games of their campaign.

Though they lie four points above the League One drop zone, they are 10 points from sixth spot, with a game in hand.

Walker said: "The players have got to pick themselves up. It's a terrible thing to lose in a final but there's a lot of football left in the rest of the season.

"The fans have been brilliant and hopefully they will come and support the players again. Let's enjoy the rest of the season and try to push for the play-offs."