Martin O'Connor: Walsall are in a sad situation
Interim boss Martin O’Connor admits Walsall have found themselves in a sad situation following the 1-0 loss at Wycombe.
Former Saddlers Player of the Year Jason McCarthy netted a stunning free-kick to earn the Chairboys a crucial victory at Adams Park.
The result means Walsall remain 23rd in League One.
But they are now four points from safety with just two games left to play - with the Saddlers certain to be relegated if they lose at home to Peterborough on Saturday.
And O’Connor couldn’t hide his disappointment following his team’s underwhelming display in Buckinghamshire.
“I didn’t think we did enough to win the game - but I don’t think they did enough to win the game,” the 51-year-old said.
“It was a bit if quality from a set-piece, which we spoke about all week.
“But I think this has been coming for weeks and weeks and weeks now. We have not been good enough in games - whoever you blame. We have just not been good enough.
“For me, it’s sad that this is the situation Walsall Football Club finds itself in.
“And I’ve said to the boys they have to be proud to wear any shirt, wherever they go next season they are going to have to put in bigger performances and better performances than they have over the past two, three, four months.”
O’Connor mixed things up at Adams Park with Cameron Norman and Luke Leahy on the wing while Corey Blackett Taylor and Zeli Ismail were on the bench.
“Their keeper didn’t have a lot to do. But what did our keeper have to do, our keeper didn’t have to do anything,” the interim boss continued.
“The game plan was to stay in the game and try and change it up.
“Corey felt his shin and Zeli felt a bit of fatigue so we have got to try and do something with that.
“At the end of the day, I have said this since I came in with Deano (Dean Keates), I don’t think it’s about formations.
“I think it’s about actually wanting to go and play and to compete against the opposition and embrace the challenge. But we have not really done that.
This performance shows the lack of quality we have offensively. And the desire to create something.
“We have to take stock, I’m sure the club will take stock and things will happen.”
