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Nicky Devlin eager to get Walsall defence right quickly

Nicky Devlin believes Walsall’s defence is improving – but the Scotsman admits that improvement has not come quickly enough.

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The Saddlers conceded just six goals in their opening seven matches in League One this season. But since that unbeaten start to the campaign they have tended to struggle at the back.

Walsall found life particularly tough in November when they conceded 13 goals in seven matches.

But they looked a lot more assured against Coventry and in two games against Sunderland this month.

That assuredness was lost in the second-half at Bradford last weekend.

Devlin though is adamant the performance at Valley Parade was a one off and the team is starting to rediscover it’s early season form.

“I think the defence is slowly starting to get there,” he said.

“Bradford was unacceptable. But that isn’t us. It wasn’t a normal result.

“We had a good clean sheet at Sunderland and I think that shows what we are capable of.

“But the improvement has not been quick enough for ourselves or the management team. We need to do more. And the sooner the better because we know we are going to score goals.

“We have got boys coming into form. Cookie (Andy Cook) looks like he going to score every week.

“The sooner we can sort things out defensively the better.”