Saddlers beaten 1-0 at Wimbledon...
Jon Whitney felt his team deserved a point from this afternoon’s 1-0 reverse at AFC Wimbledon.Lyle Taylor scored the only goal midway the second half to condemn the Saddlers to only a second defeat in nine matches.
The visitors had their chances, with Jason McCarthy and Simeon Jackson each going close in the first half, while substitute Scott Laird rattled the bar late on.
And, despite the result, Whitney refused to be too downbeat afterwards.
“We knew it would be scrappy at times,” he said.
“When you look at the way they play and the players they had on the pitch as well, we knew it would be an ugly game and we planned for that.
“In the first half we dealt with it really well. Similar to Scunthorpe, it was scrappy but we created a few chances.
“I didn’t see the goal coming and it was a bit of a smash and grab from the home team for me. the goal changes it and you have to chase it then.
"I felt it was the only time in the game that we didn’t deal win the first ball and we got punished.
“We forced it late on and if Lairdy’s chance had gone in it would have given us a deserved point. But we’ve got to take it on the chin.
“I couldn’t fault the lads’ work ethic and I thought the fans were fantastic as well – they drove the lads forward and created a great atmosphere.
“It’s nice to have a game on Tuesday and it’s important we take the hurt we’re feeling now into that game and try to bounce back.”