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Dean Keates frustrated by Walsall players 'not doing their jobs'

Walsall boss Dean Keates lamented his side's failure to cope with set pieces in defeat at Plymouth Argyle, insisting: "It's people not doing their jobs."

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Top scorer Andy Cook came up with a stunning goal at Home Park, but it was not enough to prevent the Saddlers from losing 2-1.

Ryan Edwards and Niall Canavan both headed home Graham Carey free-kicks for the hosts on a wet and windy night in Devon.

"The work rate was there, the character was there, but it's frustrating to concede from set pieces," said Keates, whose side have won one of their last eight in League One.

"They are a massive part of the game. We work on them, look at the opposition and what they do.

"It's people not doing their jobs.

"There are things we do for different set pieces. The lads are given a man before the game. If your man doesn't score, you know you've done your job.

"There were two set plays, and two players have scored."

Cook's goal came in the 82nd minute, just after he missed a header from close range.

And Keates felt Walsall had enough chances to get something from the game.

"It was a tale of set pieces. They were clinical from their two, got two free headers," he added.

"Set pieces, we work on them. It's that conviction, that desire, to go and head it.

"We had a couple of very good chances during the 90 minutes, a couple of free headers, and we weren't clinical enough with them."