Gaffer says players have to remain confident despite indifferent start

Steve Davis has not given his players a day off this week, with the aim of rebuilding some lost confidence following a first home defeat of the season. Walsall ended up winning 3-0 after Craig Westcarr broke the deadlock on 66 minutes and added a second from the penalty spot a few minutes later.

Steve told the club’s official web-site: “It is how you react to a defeat that matters. You have to remain positive and keep a level head. I have gone through the DVD again on Sunday and you can see things in a different light ready for Monday. I think it is important you do that and analyse the performance.

“You can see things that perhaps you didn’t see on Saturday. U may spot players not working as hard as you thought or players playing better than you thought at the time. That can happen and when you a defeat you have to remain positive and work harder to turn things around.

“I took loads of notes from the game and it could have gone either way until that first goal. We then had a great chance to equalise through AJ and if that had gone in, it may have given us the boost to go on and win the game.

“As it was we gave away a really sloppy penalty and found ourselves 2-0 down in a matter of minutes. The confidence can drain out of you when that situation happens and it is important that everyone stays together and bounces back from that disappointment.

 “We are a positive staff here and the players have been excellent so far this week. They are determined to work hard to turn things around and that is all you can ask.”