Walsall manager Jon Whitney has spoken following last weekend's Checkatrade Trophy defeat to Bury, and insisted that there is no time to dwell on the third cup exit of the campaign as attention turns to Saturday's League One clash with Scunthorpe United.
Jon, who was speaking via the Express & Star, said; "It’s not frustrating that it’s only the league we have to play for because the league is the most important thing. That’s the bread and butter of what we’re about. Of course we were disappointed to exit the Trophy. It was a chance for us to get to Wembley. But now we have to make sure we really push on.
"The players have got to pick their heads up quickly, we’ve got to be pro-active and dynamic moving forward for Scunthorpe. We can’t afford to feel sorry for ourselves."
Whitney then went on to discuss his side's recent switch to a more possession-based style of play, admitting that it can lead to more individual errors, but insisting that it is still a work in progress, he continued; "Mistakes will happen because we want to play. We were punished against Bury. But not every pass is going to be successful. The players are trying to step forward and play the kind of football we want to play with that energy we need as well. Bury was a defeat but it’s not in the same calibre as some we have had this season.
"We are trying to do what we see on the training pitch. In the last five games, we’ve had good performances – we’ve won three and lost two. We need to make sure that we keep the performances but turn more of those losses into wins."
"The players have got to pick their heads up quickly, we’ve got to be pro-active and dynamic moving forward for Scunthorpe. We can’t afford to feel sorry for ourselves."
Whitney then went on to discuss his side's recent switch to a more possession-based style of play, admitting that it can lead to more individual errors, but insisting that it is still a work in progress, he continued; "Mistakes will happen because we want to play. We were punished against Bury. But not every pass is going to be successful. The players are trying to step forward and play the kind of football we want to play with that energy we need as well. Bury was a defeat but it’s not in the same calibre as some we have had this season.
"We are trying to do what we see on the training pitch. In the last five games, we’ve had good performances – we’ve won three and lost two. We need to make sure that we keep the performances but turn more of those losses into wins."