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Roberts: "You’ve got to have adaptability"

23 February 2021

Walsall goalkeeper Liam Roberts feels the team are learning and adapting as they adjust to life under Head Coach Brian Dutton.

Roberts was instrumental as he made a string of fine saves to help the Saddlers pick up a point against Stevenage despite playing with 10 men for over 35 minutes.

The 26-year-old felt the team showed resilience and believes they are proving they can adapt as Dutton looks to put his stamp on the team.

“The gaffer wants to try and implement different things,” Roberts said.

“We as a team, as a squad have to show the adaptability to be able to put it on the pitch and if you’re not doing it on the pitch then you’re not going to get picked so you’ve got to make sure you’re doing the right thing at the right time.

“You’ve got to have adaptability. The gaffer wants that and he’s given us the freedom to express ourselves and go and enjoy playing football. As a team, we’re getting there and we’re still learning.

"It’s going to be tough but we’ve still got a lot of adapting to do. It’s going to take time but we’ve got the backing from the staff as well.

“We’ll take a point on the road.

“We were resilient throughout the game and limited them as much as we possibly could but the red card changes the game but after that credit to the lads, they showed resilience and were strong at the back so we’ll keep the momentum and take it into Wednesday.”

Roberts has started all of the last seven matches after a spell out of the starting XI.

The Saddlers stopper admitted he has been disappointed with a couple of his performances this season but has taken responsibility and bounced back in a positive way.

“I can be open and honest, there are goals this year that I’ve been really disappointed by,” he admitted.

“I’ve been doing some analysis with Maik and working on plenty of different things.

“There’s been times where I’ve let the team down and you have to take that on your shoulders as a goalkeeper. You have to always find a way to bounce back no matter what happens and you have to think ‘what can I do to affect it?’

“I think a couple of games this year, I’ll be open and honest, I’ve been at fault for goals and I have to turn that around and show that consistency or else I’ll be sat on the bench so I need to keep improving and keep adapting.”

The Saddlers are back in action on Wednesday as they host Newport County at the Banks’s Stadium, kick-off is at 5.30pm.

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