Jon Whitney bemoaned his side’s slow start as the Saddlers fell to a 2-0 derby defeat at second-placed Shrewsbury.
Alex Rodman tucked home Jon Nolan’s low cross to give Town a sixth-minute lead and Carlton Morris should have made it 2-0 when he volleyed against the post.
Nicky Devlin and Luke Leahy each rattled the woodwork for the Saddlers but Abu Ogogo’s late tap-in made sure of the win.
“The first 15 minutes, I thought we gave them too much respect,” said Whitney.
“Once you give Shrewsbury a one-goal lead, they don’t concede too many goals.
“It becomes difficult then and they do the basics better than anybody in this league.
“We had some half chances – hit the post and bar – and they got the second late on.
“The disappointing thing is the first goal and the timing of it.
“You can’t give a team like Shrewsbury a goal inside the first ten minutes.
"They're one of the better teams at defending a lead.
"It was a game of half chances - the pitch was very lively - but they did the basics better then we did."