Walsall manager Darrell Clarke has spoken to club journalists and admitted his team have plenty of work to do heading into the 2020/21 League Two campaign.
Mansfield-born Clarke, who is entering his second season in WS1, was speaking after his side were defeated by two-goals-to-nil by Crewe Alexandra in their opening pre-season outing at the weekend.
First-half goals from Callum Ainley and Daniel Powell were enough to see the Railwaymen, who had already played several pre-season matches ahead of their meeting with the Saddlers, home to victory.
And whilst Clarke was disappointed to fall to defeat, he was keen to focus on the positives as he prepares his team for Tuesday evenings behind closed doors clash with Wolverhampton Wanderers' Under-23s.
Speaking via the club's official website, Darrell said; "For me you want to be winning games but you’ve seen a team in Crewe who were playing their fourth game and that was our first.
"I thought it could have ended up 5-5 or 6-6 but they’re a good possession-based team Crewe and we moved the ball really well for thirty minutes in the first half.
"We then made the changes. I’ve got two scholars and two first year pros coming out there and doing very well.
"I’ve been pleased to be honest with you at the end of a good workout with two teams, different forty-fives and a couple of different shapes but I’ve been pleased with the fitness levels of the lads.
"We’ve obviously got a lot more work to do in that area but it was a good workout."