Darrell Clarke urges Walsall to build on win over Morecambe

Posted Wednesday, September 18, 2019 by PA

Walsall boss Darrell Clarke hopes his side can build on their 1-0 win at fellow Sky Bet League Two strugglers Morecambe.

After seeing Stuart Sinclair’s fourth-minute goal secure the Saddlers’ second victory of the season, Clarke said: “It was a good win.

“We have played better this season and lost but we looked solid again. It was a battling performance and we kept another clean sheet which was good.

“I put a bit of pressure on the lads after the defeat at the weekend and they did that, they worked really hard for the full 90 minutes, gave me the response I wanted after Saturday’s defeat and we thoroughly deserved the points on the night.

“The workmate and the application was spot on. We were on the front foot for a lot of the game and put in a really strong defensive performance to it was a good night all round.

“We know we have to do better going forward and we need to put things to bed earlier than we are doing but that was out fourth clean sheet in nine games and that is a real positive.

“We are trying to build something here and we have gad some disappointing results so far this season so hopefully we can kick on from here.”

Morecambe boss Jim Bentley was the target of boos from a small section of the Shrimps’ crowd after the game and admitted he found it difficult to take.

He said: “There were a few fans, only a few, calling for my head and it wasn’t nice and it is stressful at the moment as the results aren’t going our way.

“I don’t look at social media but I get told about it and, when you get told about things like polls to see if you should get sacked, it’s not nice.

“I’ve always given my best and I always will and the lads gave their all tonight but we just lacked a bit of quality where it mattered.

“I’ve been here 18 years and all I can do is give it my absolute all and continue to show the passion I have always shown this club as a player, captain and manager.

“Some of our football has been excellent this season but, although the lads gave their all, we lacked confidence and quality going forward and we came up short.”

Sinclair scored after just four minutes when he was in the right place at the right time to slot home the rebound after Barry Roche had saved Rory Gaffney’s low shot.

Morecambe saw long-range efforts from Shaun Miller and Adam Buxton fly over the bar, with Walsall going close with a shot from Liam Kinsella that flew just past the right hand post before Roche saved an effort from Rory Holden in first-half injury time.

The second half saw Morecambe enjoy a brief period of dominance with Walsall keeper Liam Roberts doing well to save a goalmouth scramble after an Andrew Tutte corner caused problems in the Saddlers defence.

Miller did put the ball into the Walsall net after 55 minutes but saw his effort ruled out for offside.