Calvin Andrew reflects on Dale’s defeat to Walsall…
“We were trying to push towards the end to try and get something from the game but were probably to little too late,” said Andrew in his post-match interview.
“Credit to them [Walsall] – I thought they defended well when they were under the cosh in the last 15 minutes or so of the game, but I think it’s a game where we probably should have done better during the first half in and put them [the goals] away.
“With the possession we had in the first half, we’ve really got to try and push that home and make more of it. We didn’t, and when that happens, we’ve also got to stay in games. It’s important that we stay in the game and don’t concede goals so that we can take our opportunities when they do come later in the game.
“Everyone who watches football up and down the country will see individual mistakes from both teams but it’s the magnitude of those mistakes at the moment that are costing us. They are big ones that are literally leading straight to goals. We’re doing our utmost to try and nullify and reduce those mistakes to get them out of our game.
“For the younger players, it [making mistakes] can sometimes take a little bit away from them confidence wise, so it’s important for everyone to stick together and to get behind them.
“It’s not all doom and gloom, there are positives to take from our performances and there’s loads of football still to be played, so it’s now about getting in the right frame of mind to go forward and start getting some wins.
“Next up is Middlesbrough in the Carabao Cup, who’ll be a good side like most teams we’re playing at the moment. Like I’ve said, it’s up to us to get in the right frame of mind and get back on the winning track.”