“A lottery” - Richard Keogh reacts to Walsall’s shoot-out exit in Carabao Cup

Richard Keogh was buoyed by how Walsall maintained their “core principles” - despite suffering penalty shoot-out heartbreak against Leyton Orient at Bescot in the Carabao Cup second round.

Walsall took their League One opponents to penalties following a goalless draw, before bowing out 6-5 on penalties.

The Saddlers had previously beaten Championship side Bristol City in the first round and still registered their fourth successive clean sheet.

“A lottery” - Richard Keogh on Carabao Cup exit

“Penalties are always a lottery. I’ve been there many times as a player where I’ve come on the right side and I’ve come on the wrong side,” Walsall assistant Keogh said.

“As far as the performance goes, I thought it will really good. We made seven changes and that shows how much belief we have in the squad.

“Everyone affected the game and another night I think we could’ve won it.”

He continued: “As players, when you play against higher opposition like we have done, of course you take confidence from it.

“But the biggest focus for us is always going to be on ourselves and how we’re implementing our core principles that we really believe in.

“To show that against higher opposition is really pleasing. From a coaching perspective, the fact that we’re being us against higher opposition is the most pleasing thing.”

Jed Ward made a series of saves in the first half - including an outstanding finger tip stop to deny Charlie Wellens’ powerful strike from the edge of the box.

Andrew Dallas had two chances when his goal-bound finish was hooked clear by Will Forester, before his low drive forced a smart save from Noah Phillips.

Keogh on Burke disallowed goal

Harrison Burke believed he had opened the scoring on the cusp of half-time when he towered above his marker to cushion his header into the corner from Reece Smith’s free-kick.

But his celebrations were dashed by the flag, after the linesman adjudged the Walsall centre-back to have come back from an offside position.

When asked about the incident, Keogh said: “I thought it was really close. I watched it a few times back on the iPad on the bench and I still couldn’t really get to a decision with it if I’m honest.

“It’s tight isn’t it. Maybe he is, maybe he isn’t, but it was a great header by the way.

“So, yes I thought it was tight, but I’m not a linesman.”