Express & Star

Walsall manager Darrell Clarke: No excuse as Saddlers bid for O’s victory

Walsall manager Darrell Clarke isn’t using the congested fixture list or his dwindling squad numbers as excuses as his side looks to ‘bounce back’ against Leyton Orient.

Published
Last updated

The Saddlers failed to build on their 2-0 Boxing Day victory over Scunthorpe when they fell to a 2-1 defeat at home to a struggling Carlisle United side.

Clarke’s men had enough opportunities to win the game, but after equalising through Elijah Adebayo, James Clarke was given a straight red card before Carlisle netted the winner in the 94th minute.

Three days later and Walsall now welcome the challenge of Leyton Orient.

Since the O’s beat the Saddlers 3-1 in October, they’ve suffered a downturn in results, having won once in their last 10 league games.

And Clarke says his side will be ready for the challenge.

“Just play the games,” he said.

“We don’t choose the fixtures, we’ll be ready.

“We thank the support again, I thought they got behind the boys, we appreciate that.

“We’ll put a team out against Orient and try and get the three points.

“Try and bounce back, that’s what we’ve got to do.

“I’m frustrated, disappointed and angry that we haven’t built on something and held on.

“That’s the problem, a lot of home games we’ve been the better team.

“There’s illness, there’s injuries in the camp, but we go again.

“We’ll patch them up in the next couple days and we’ll put a team out.

“I don’t use it as an excuse, just move on.

“Crack on with another 11 players on the pitch against Orient.”

Four first-team regulars were unexpectedly missing for the Carlisle fixture after starting the win over Scunthorpe.

Stuart Sinclair, Dan Scarr, Liam Kinsella and Cameron Pring all missed out on the game.

When asked about their exclusion, Clarke said: “Injuries and illness.”