Martin O'Connor: 'Hopefully a Phoenix Will Rise From the Ashes' Martin O'Connor: 'Hopefully a Phoenix Will Rise From the Ashes'

Martin O'Connor: 'Hopefully a Phoenix Will Rise From the Ashes'

Interim Walsall manager Martin O’Connor has spoken following Saturday evening's goalless draw with Shrewsbury Town and expressed his sadness as the Saddlers were relegated from League One following a disappointing 2018/19 campaign..
O'Connor, who was in the dugout following the sacking of Dean Keates in early April, was ultimately unable to halt a terrible run of form which saw the Saddlers go from the top five in October to twenty-second position on the final day of the season.

The Saddlers went into the match in need of a win and a couple of favourable results elsewhere but were without luck as, along with a string of poor results in games around the country, the Reds failed to dirty goalkeeper Jonathan Mitchell's sheet as the sides played out a goalless draw at Montgomery Waters Meadow.

Speaking to various members of the local press, Martin said; "I’m sad, frustrated and disappointed. I felt during the week we were positive and we tried to instil some more belief after the Peterborough result and performance.

"In the first-half we were tentative and nervous. I had a few words at half-time and told them to play without fear. They did that and I thought we were the better team in the second half.

"But I don’t think today is why we got relegated. There have been some non-performances throughout the season where we have not picked up points and been really poor.

"We have to look at ourselves in the mirror and try and understand why this has happened to the club. Hopefully from the ashes a phoenix will come out."
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