Walsall manager Jon Whitney has spoken to club journalists following Saturday afternoon's season-opening defeat to Bury, and has admitted that he was disappointed as he side began the 2017/18 campaign with a defeat.
Jon, who was speaking via Saddlers.co.uk, insisted that his side was the better of the two, especially in the first-half, he said; "I think the first-half, take away the first minute and the last minute, we were the better side.
"We’ve had a great save from Gilly in the first couple of minutes but I thought we started the game well. We put them on the back foot and created the better chances. We could have gone in with a lead.
"But the timing of the goal was a sucker punch. It was right on the 45th minute and from a dead ball as well. But the lads’ heads were still up at half-time and from there I think they just tried to stop us playing.
"They made it quite ugly. It was very stop-start. There were too many free-kicks. And it’s difficult then to get any flowing football played. I’m disappointed with the result but I can’t fault the work rate and application from the lads. With the effort they put in, they deserved more.
"But let’s face it, we can’t keep coming away from home and giving away two penalties because he won’t always be there to save them. Our discipline needs to be better. We gave away too many free-kicks. I think we fell into their hands a little bit and made it a very scrappy affair."