Jon Whitney was disappointed with his side’s reaction to taking an early lead after the Saddlers’ 2-1 defeat at struggling Northampton.
Erhun Oztumer slotted Walsall ahead inside two minutes but Chris Long nodded the Cobblers level just two minutes later.
Long went on to score what proved to be Town’s winner just before half-time, leaving Whitney feeling frustrated.
“We started really well,” he said.
“We knew they needed a result and that that they wanted to be on the front foot. We wanted to play over the press which I think we did really well and we got the goal.
“I don’t know why, but after that our mind-set was that we could go and play.
“Northampton were not going to sit back after going a goal down. They were going to try and be even more on the front foot.
“We had to play beyond their energy and not give them the chance to get back into the game.
“That is what we have got to get better at. As a group, you have got be resolute and not conceded in that 10 minute period.
“In a way, that opening goal back-fired because they got the goal and that gave them momentum to kick on. It’s that period after that goal that we have to manage better.”
Both sides finished the match with ten men after Amadou Bakayoko was sent off for a late lunge on Matt Crooks, who was then shown red for dissent.
And Whitney was unhappy with his team’s lack of discipline.
“I thought our discipline was really poor and we gave away too many free-kicks,” he added.
“There were too many silly, stupid fouls which cost us momentum and played into their hands.”