Walsall boss Keates thrilled with their determination against Bristol Rovers

Posted Sunday, October 07, 2018 by PA

Dean Keates insisted his side’s stoppage time winner was justice at the end of a game that could have gone either way.

While Rovers might have nicked it when substitute Sam Matthews’ late free kick was tipped onto a post by goalkeeper Liam Roberts, it was Walsall replacement Kieron Morris who grabbed the glory with a low right-footed drive from 12 yards in the dying seconds.

Manager Keates believed his side should have been ahead long before and was especially incensed that a seventh-minute header from Luke Leahy was ruled out by the officials.

“The referee told me the goal had been disallowed for handball,” said Keates. “But I have seen it again and the ball clearly goes in off Luke’s shoulder.

“We were also denied a clear penalty when Jon Guthrie had his shirt pulled. A few things have gone against us in recent matches and as the game drew to a close I thought it wasn’t going to be our day.

“Fair play to the lads for keeping going right to the final whistle. Liam Roberts has maintained concentration to make one great save and their goalkeeper was named man-of-the-match, which says a lot.

“When I sent on Kieron Morris I told him it was an opportunity for him and to go out and stake his claim again. He has been patient, applied himself in training, and today he got his reward.

“He was brave enough to take on the shot, having put himself in the right area. We pride ourselves on clean sheets and collectively as a group the players put bodies on the line today.”

Rovers boss Darrell Clarke was in no mood to offer excuses, having seen his team drop back into the League One relegation zone.

“The table doesn’t lie after 25 percent of the season and as things stand we are facing a relegation fight,” he said. “It was terribly disappointing to lose the game so late on, but I am even more disappointed by our forward thinking play.

“My so-called match-winners are coming nowhere near to what is required. Our goalkeeper has played well and my back-four have defended umpteen balls into the box, but my creators didn’t turn up.

“That was also the case in the second half against Rochdale recently and they are under pressure. I need to see characters in the position we find ourselves.

“It’s not just the front men at fault. Crosses are going way over their heads or hitting the front man and we have to do a lot better if it is not to be a long, painful season.

“I don’t hide behind excuses. I like my teams to be dominant and on the front foot at home and it hasn’t been that way.”