Luke Williams: Notts County unrecognisable in Walsall defeat, says boss

Luke Williams guided Notts County to promotion from the National League last season

Boss Luke Williams says he "did not recognise" his Notts County side as Walsall fought back to beat the Magpies on Saturday.

Notts suffered a fifth defeat in seven games in all competitions and remain sixth in League Two.

The Saddlers, who had failed to score in their three previous games, netted two second-half goals to end their five-game winless run.

"In the end we got steamrolled," Williams told BBC Radio Nottingham.

Williams has bemoaned his side's defensive performances already this season, with Magpies captain Kyle Cameron saying he has been "embarrassed" by their efforts.

The Magpies remain the joint top scorers in the league with 43 goals in 21 games, but only three sides have conceded more than them in the fourth division.

"If we are not going to be great defensively, and then we are not going to outscore the opposition, then I'm not sure what we are going to do," Williams said.

"We know we have scored good numbers in the division already, but we need to continue to keep teams out.

"The first half was quite cagey, but we made a breakthrough. The second half, I don't even recognise the team."

Williams said his side was both "lethargic" and "weak at times" in the second half against Walsall, as a double from Oisin McEntee proved enough to shock Notts at home.

Defeat was the Magpies' fourth in six League Two games, and despite collecting just six points from a possible 18 since late October they remain just one point outside the automatic promotion places.

However, every side above them in the table - apart from leaders Stockport - have games in hand on Notts.

"We've stuttered throughout the first half of the season," Williams said.

"We've played good, then really poor, then good and we can't seem to find consistency.

"We play good in the first half and bad in the second, and vice versa, so we need to find a decent level and be able to maintain that."