Dean Keates: Walsall need to get back to winning ways
Boss Dean Keates believes Walsall’s “good” start to the season is now only an “okay” one after his team fell to a second loss in four days at Southend.
A Harry Bunn brace and a Timothee Dieng goal saw the Saddlers beaten 3-0 at Roots Hall.
That scoreline flattered the hosts though with Keates’ men the better team for 70 minutes without taking their chances.
Josh Ginnelly missed two headers - the first just four minutes in - while Luke Leahy and Jon Guthrie both failed to tap in a dangerous Connor Ronan corner in first-half stoppage time.
And while Keates was pleased with the reaction his players showed following the loss at Luton on Saturday, he said it doesn’t matter if you don’t get results.
“We asked for a reaction and I thought we played really well first-half,” the boss said.
“We could have, probably should have, gone one-nil up in the first couple of minutes.
“We did get the reaction we wanted. We kept the ball for long periods and had decent periods of play.
“We’ve come away from home and been dominant, but it’s a results business and we haven’t got a result.
“The first goal we conceded was sloppy but then we have let in a routine corner. It was a free header.
“As it stands at the moment, what was a good start has turned into an okay start.
“We need to get back to winning ways at the weekend at home.”
While Keates was disappointed with the two chances Ginnelly missed, he was pleased to seeing the winger get in the right areas.
“We are disappointed with the first one, it makes our life a little bit easier if he puts that away in the first couple of minutes,” the boss continued.
“He has got in the middle of the goals. I ask him to make runs and get into the middle of the box.
“He is in there for the second one and the keeper has pulled a good save off.”
It was only after Southend’s second goal that the Shrimpers really took control of the clash.
And Keates admits that is something he and his players have to look at.
“The second goal has gone in and we have lost our composure,” he added.
“A little bit of confidence drained out of them.
“It’s something we have had a talk about and something that needs addressing over the next few days.”
