Mat Sadler bemoans Walsall offside call and issues early assessment on double injury blow
Mat Sadler felt Walsall deserved at least a point in their 1-0 defeat against Grimsby Town at Bescot after Ryan Finnigan had a late goal controversially ruled out for offside.
Evan Khouri scored the decisive goal in the 68th-minute when he converted the rebound after Aden Flint had cleared Kieran Green's initial header off the line.
Walsall forced Grimsby goalkeeper Christy Pym into a series of saves, while Dan Cox crashed an effort from distance against the crossbar in the second half.
Kabia also saw his finish expertly turned on to the post by Myles Roberts on the cusp of half-time, but the most poignant moment came when new signing Finnigan had a goal ruled out for offside 10 minutes from time.
"I thought [a point] is the least we deserved. From the video footage we've got, it was onside, so it's frustrating when it doesn't go your way," Sadler argued.
"You need those ones to go your way. What I will say for the linesman's point of view is that Coxy is that side of him and he probably didn't see the guy on the other side.
"It didn't create that grandstand that the supporters deserved but we kept going. We emptied the tank and that's all you can really ask."
Jonny Stuttle and Mason Hancock were forced off with suspected knee injuries in either half, with the latter being stretchered off.
Both looked serious issues and Sadler fears that the pair could be set for significant spell on the side lines.
"It was gutting for them that they've gone down injured and we hope that they're ok, although I think they're going to be out for a significant time," he revealed.
"It looked like that to me [two knee injuries] as well. I haven't properly had a chance to see either of them, but they didn't look like good ones, so both of them could be out for a time.
"Difficult circumstances when that happens to two players and it just unsettles things.
"We'll see what the injuries are. It looks significant but the only saving grace when you have two big ones like that is that the window is still open."
Brandon Comley was not included in the squad, while Evan Weir, Rico Browne, Ronan Maher and Vincent Harper also missed out.
Sadler confirmed that there are no further injury issues and explained that the absences are purely based on his selection.
He added: "We've got a good squad and I can't put everyone in there. That's how it is and we've wanted that.
"We've got two players for every position. That's what we're trying to get, and if that is the case, then we can't put everyone in."
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