Darrell Clarke: Give Walsall players a chance

Many fans have been left disappointed with the start to life in League Two after five consecutive losses leaves the club in 21st place.

And while Clarke understands fans will have their say after games, he's asked for everyone to be on board with the team.

“Fans pay their money, we need the money as a football club and we need them on board," Clarke said.

"If you pay your money you can say what you want but I always say give the players a chance.

"I don’t mean get on their case after 10 minutes but if they feel at the end of the game their performance warrants a clap or a boo then so be it.

"That's the way of the world, if they want to go back on Twitter and say 'he's rubbish, manager's rubbish' and all that, so be it, I'm just thankful I don't go on any of that stuff.

“Especially in the footballing world, everyone wants success tomorrow.

"The opinions are everywhere you go now.

"They’re on Twitter, Sky Sports News, football channels and everyone’s an expert.

"Everybody will pick a different team when you’re losing but I’m my own biggest critic, nobody can put myself under more pressure than I put myself under.

"Nobody feels the way I feel when I lose a game, trust me on that, it's like losing a family member, that's the way I've always worked.

"It’s pleasing that the Walsall fans know where we are at the minute and we’ll have a good journey, we’ll have ups and downs along the journey and we’ll get there in the end.

"Critiques are around every corner so you’ve got to build a siege mentality at training grounds.

"You have to build standards which are even more important.

"The standards I set are very high and the players seem to be enjoying and focused on that.

"The training is high intensity, high work rate and the players are improving.

"We’re a developing club and that’s what they’ve done over the years and we’ve got to get back to that."