Express & Star

Dean Keates: Walsall need to man up

Dean Keates has told his shellshocked Saddlers side it’s time to ‘man up’ after their drubbing at Bradford City.

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The boss is demanding an immediate reaction when they travel to promotion-chasing Peterborough United on Saturday.

Keates was furious with Walsall’s 4-0 capitulation at Bradford after watching his side crumble from 1-0 at half-time, shipping three second-half goals at Valley Parade in their worst result of the campaign so far.

Keates said: “The players need to look at themselves, grow up and there needs to be a reaction on the back of that.

“We have got to regroup and get back to basics. When we talk about the defence, it’s not just the goalkeeper and the back four.

“They can’t feel sorry for themselves – they are responsible for that performance at Bradford.

“They have got to grow up and get their heads back, get their shoulders up and man up to it

.”