Walsall Head Coach Michael Flynn was frustrated with how his team defended during Saturday’s defeat to Salford City.
The Saddlers opened the scoring at the Peninsula Stadium through Rollin Menayese before Matt Smith levelled on the stroke of half time.
Salford completed the turnaround on 66 minutes when Ryan Watson converted a penalty.
Flynn insists the players will not be allowed to take their foot off the gas this season but cut a frustrated figure after the match.
“Bad defending has cost us the game because we’ve outclassed them,” he said.
“We were by far the better team but we can’t keep giving goals away like we did last week and this week because it’s cost us.
“I was still going for the play-offs last week so if they think that the season is over because we’re near enough safe, they’ve got another thing coming.
“We won’t get enough points to get in there now but they need to understand the importance of being professional and seeing out games.”
Flynn also felt his side should have been awarded a penalty when George Miller went down under a challenge late on.
He also stressed there were positives to take, such as the noise from the away end and some individual displays.
“I think there were a lot of good performances,” he commented.
“I know we’ve lost the game and it’s easy to be disappointed and I am disappointed but we should have won that game, simple as that.
“We should have scored again. The referee has made a really bad mistake at the end, it’s a definite penalty. I’ve watched it again and he’s made a bad mistake.
“We should have won the game; we were the better team but our finishing and the decision making again wasn’t quite up to what I want from them.
“A lot of positives as well, the fans were quality as well, there were a lot of them and I thought they were the home fans because they were that loud. I’m just gutted we haven’t got a win for them.”
Watch more: