Lee Grant "frustrated" as Walsall drop below the levels expected in Telford defeat

Lee Grant says he was “frustrated” to see Walsall full below the level he expects of them in their 1-0 pre-season defeat at National League North outfit AFC Telford United.

Albert Adomah hit the post with a free-kick in the opening exchanges, but it was a 30th-minute strike from one of the Bucks’ trialists which ultimately decided the contest.

A positive start fizzled out once Telford found the breakthrough and Grant felt his side fell short in both intensity and quality.

“A frustrating afternoon” - Grant on Walsall’s defeat

“Frustrating if I’m really honest because we fell well short of the levels we’ve shown for the four weeks I’ve been with the group,” head coach Grant admitted.

“I think they know that in there. There may be bits that can come away and say there were good signs in there, but for the main part, it was a frustrating afternoon.

“We’ve fallen very short in several aspects. Mainly in terms of intensity, but also quality throughout the fixture.”

He continued: “There should be no difference [between performances in pre-season and competitive games].

“I don’t come here and expect the group to play a substandard performance, or below their own level individually and collectively.

“But I think we’ve done that today. So, that is the frustration for me.”

Grant continuing to learn about his Walsall squad

Walsall struggled to create for the final two thirds of the game and are yet to find the net in each of their three friendlies that have been played in front of supporters.

Grant is pleased with the personalities of the individuals in his squad, but wants them to show more personality as a collective.

“I’m learning a lot about the group every day and every week,” he continued.

“What I’ve seen so far is a group that wants to work really hard. It’s a humble group with lots of good individuals in terms of who we’ve brought in as people.

“I think what we’ve got to find is a bit more personality as a collective and we’ve got work to do on that front.”

Walsall have brought in nine new players following the departures of 14 this summer and Grant recognises that a level of patience will be required.

He’s confident that this group have potential, but reiterated that the performance at Telford was a disappointment.

“I’ve got to be mindful that we’ve been together for four weeks, and not four years, or four months.

“We’ve still got guys that have been in the building for less than four days,” he added.

“So, we have to be careful not to be too hard on ourselves on that fact.

“We’re putting together a new group and by the end of it we’re going to be more than 10 bodies new in the building.

“It’s going to be 50 per cent of a new squad with a new manager asking new things of the players.

“But what I see from the players day-to-day, it fills me with a lot of confidence with where we can get to, but today overall was a disappointment.”