Saddlers defender Dean Holden spoke to the Express & Star ahead of his side's League One game against Carlisle at the Banks's Stadium tomorrow, Holden understandably frustrated with Walsall losing 2-1 at home to Leyton Orient in midweek:
"We look back on Tuesday's defeat to Leyton Orient with frustration. We created enough chances in the second half but, credit to them, they had done their homework on us and got the win. It was plain to see how they had come and set up, that’s we are going to be up against now. We probably played into their hands too much during the first half and we weren't patient enough on the ball.
“We went long rather than staying patient and moving the ball – me especially, and then they ended up breaking and scoring, but we put it right in the second half. We probably did enough to win the game but it wasn’t to be. When teams watch us they’ll want to stop us and it’s to up to us to come up with plan B. It’s a compliment to the way we’re playing. We do that to other teams, we look at their strengths and weaknesses and we have a go at their weaknesses and try to nullify their strengths.
"We had a good chat during half-time and managed to put a few things right after the break and finished the game strongly. The hope now is that we can take this into Saturday's game. It's been a great start to the season generally for us but the lads in the dressing room aren't surprised by it. That said, it's still early days and there is a long way to go.
“Our main objective right now is to make sure that we bounce back from Tuesday's defeat in the right way against Carlisle and not lose two games in a row. It’s frustrating because we’d been on a good run but we only have to look at the Stevenage defeat and the Brentford game, when we got pegged back to 2-2 late on. We put it right in the very next game. So, that’s the mantra in the dressing room – put it right and try to go on a run again.”