Walsall boss Darrell Clarke was left frustrated after seeing his side lose 1-0 at Crewe Alexandra.
Eddie Nolan’s second half goal was enough to see the Railwaymen edge past the Saddlers on Saturday.
Clarke admitted his team need to more clinical in the final third but felt hard done by with Crewe’s goal.
It is offside,” said Clarke. “He is one-yard off on the shot and four yards off when the ball is flicked around the corner.
“But let’s not paper over the cracks.
“We should have been a lot more ruthless in the final third - then we haven’t got a case to answer.
“We have had numerous corners, lots of territory and we have broken their line plenty of times but we have not looked after that final ball so - to be coming away with a duck egg - no goals, is very disappointing.”
Caolan Lavery and Jack Kiersey both made their first start for the Saddlers at Gresty Road.
Clarke feels both will improve and feels they, along with the team as whole, will continue to improve.
“Caolan hasn’t had a pre-season so there is a lot more to come from him,” he commented.
“He has had a great chance to be fair. He should put that in the back of the net.
“Jack came in and did okay. He used the ball quite well in the first-half. It’s nice to have competition for places.
“We have got a good set and I think you can see that the way the fans get behind the team.
“They can see it’s a work in progress. They can see an honest group of players who are giving it a right go at the minute.”
The Saddlers will be looking to bounce back when they face Newport County at the Banks’s Stadium tomorrow night.