Jon Whitney dressed down Walsall side
Walsall boss Jon Whitney insisted his players needed a dressing down following their 4-0 hammering at the hands of Bradford City.
The Saddlers suffered their heaviest league defeat of the season on Saturday with a James Hanson hat-trick and Filipe Morais goal ensuring the Bantams ran out clear and deserved winners.
A furious Whitney questioned his players' desire to win promotion after the match, having watched his side be bettered by Bradford in every area.
In the past, the interim head coach has talked about the need to keep emotions in check whether Walsall win, lose or draw.
But Whitney felt there were home truths that needed to be told in the Valley Park dressing room.
He said: "We talk about this emotional baseline but it was right to for me to have a spike in my emotion because sometimes you need emotion – that is what life is about.
"If you don't care you, don't change things. I care, my staff care and the club cares. Most of the players care and I know the group cares, I just have to teach them.
"That acceptance we have had over the past few years, we can't let that creep back into the club.
"We have got three games left, three massive cup finals and we didn't play the second half at Bradford like it was a cup final. That is what is disappointing for me."
Walsall have little time to dwell on the defeat with West Midlands rivals Shrewsbury at the Banks's Stadium tomorrow.
And Whitney, who has called for a reaction from his players, is pleased his team is back in action so soon.
He continued: "I'm definitely pleased we are playing tomorrow - it's one of them where you don't want a week. We have to bounce back.
"We have got to find out why we had such a drop off and I will get advice from various people about that. Through adversity, you have the chance to improve and get stronger.
"I always do, with every bad experience in my life I have got stronger and I will get stronger for the Bradford defeat - I just have to make sure the team do as well."
