Darrell Clarke: Walsall got away with 'daylight robbery'
Walsall boss Darrell Clarke admitted his side committed “daylight robbery” as they emerged from Forest Green with a point despite being under pressure for the vast majority of the game.
Caolan Lavery’s clinical first goal of the season arrived against the run of the play to put the Saddlers in front on 14 minutes, but it was very much a rearguard effort from there, Jamille Matt levelling for the hosts just after the hour.
That was how it stayed until full time, and although it proved a point gained for Walsall to extend their unbeaten start, it was a frustrated manager who labelled the performance as “nowhere near good enough”.
“That was daylight robbery, we were shocking,” blasted Clarke.
“We produced one moment of quality for the goal but that was it and, for me, we were nowhere near good enough - I don’t mind admitting it was a very lucky point.
“The players know how I feel about that and we were just miles off our performance levels.
“We rode our luck at times, some of our play was poor, and apart from the quality for the goal we were slack in possession and we were slack without the ball.
“Robbo did well in goal but overall we maybe had three or four players who were half decent and that was about it.
“There were no real positives to take from the game apart from getting a point away from home against a good team.
“For the majority of the games we have played this season I feel we have been the better team so when we haven’t I will take the point.”
Clarke, who revealed that George Nurse’s half time substitution was tactical as he decide to switch formation for the second half, says there is a lot of work in store this week as Walsall look to improve with three home games ahead.
“I am frustrated and the players know I am frustrated but it’s not all doom and gloom,” he added.
“We are still unbeaten this season and haven’t lost a game since February 1st.
“But we have got to be better than that performance today.
“We go into three home games now – Saturday, Tuesday, Saturday – and hopefully more of my players turn up next Saturday.
“We are going to have a really hard and intense week on the training ground that’s for sure.”
