Express & Star

Dean Keates: We only had ourselves to blame

Dean Keates admitted Walsall only had themselves to blame after they were comfortably beaten at home by Burton.

Published

A dreadful first-half performance saw the Saddlers go in two goals down at the break with Jamie Allen and Devante Cole on target.

But it could have been even worse for Keates’ side with Liam Boyce missing a penalty for the Brewers.

Burton did grab a third shortly after the re-start with Scott Fraser firing in to effectively end any hopes of a Walsall fight-back.

The Saddlers did improve from that point with Andy Cook missing two good chances before he did find the target.

But it was too little, too late with Keates believing all Burton’s goals were preventable.

“I’m disappointed, I’m frustrated - we killed ourselves,” Keates said.

“And that is no disrespect to Burton, they played well.

“But we have had an input in every single goal we have conceded.

“Both teams set up in a similar shape but we didn’t keep possession of the ball. We didn’t use the man in the middle of the park.

“Both teams had that extra man but we didn’t have enough composure to make passes.

You have to give full credit to Burton.”

Burton’s third goal ended any hope of a fight-back with the goal arriving after George Dobson got the ball stuck under his feet in the box.

“Again we have played our part, Keates continued.

“We have cleared the ball, Dobbo has miss-controlled it and the kid has nicked it and put it in.

“At 2-0 we were always in with a chance. But I think we showed a bit more character in the second half, we played a little bit brighter and looked a little bit like our old selves.”

Keates admitted the team now have some serious reflecting to do ahead of Tuesday’s visit of Charlton.

“First half we were nowhere near it and that is taking nothing away from Burton,” he added.

“We have got to look at ourselves.

“As I’ve said from day one, they are a young group and they have to learn.

“The good thing is we have got a game on Tuesday night. We can get it out our system and hopefully get a reaction.”