By Mark Mitchener

We've got to buck up our ideas because it's just not good enough at the moment Darren Wrack

Long-serving midfielder Darren Wrack insists Walsall's players only have themselves to blame for their poor start to the season.

Last season's League Two champions are still awaiting their first win after four league and two cup games.

"We seem to be blowing a bit hot and cold at the moment, and feeling sorry for ourselves," Wrack told BBC Sport.

"We've been inconsistent and given away easy goals, but we're the only people that can get ourselves out of this."

Wrack has made over 300 league appearances, experienced three promotions and three relegations under five managers (plus two caretakers) since he arrived at the Bescot Stadium from Grimsby in 1998.

But after the Saddlers pipped Hartlepool to the League Two title in May, they have stumbled with their first steps back in League One.

606: DEBATE Discuss Walsall's start to the season on 606

After drawing 1-1 with Carlisle on the opening day, Richard Money's side have slipped to successive league and cup defeats against Swansea (twice), Leyton Orient and Gillingham.

Then, in Tuesday's Johnstone's Paint Trophy tie at Bournemouth, they lost 2-0 after conceding both goals in the first eight minutes.

"We can't go out and perform like we did on Tuesday and expect to win games," Wrack insisted.

"We conceded two early goals when we sat off and gave them far too much room. By the time we got playing, it was far too late.

"The manager wasn't happy, but neither were the players.

"We've played well in patches in a couple of games, but we've got to buck up our ideas because it's just not good enough at the moment.

WRACK: WALSALL HIGHS & LOWS 1998: Signed from Grimsby by Walsall boss Ray Graydon 1999: Promoted to Division 1 2000: Relegated to Division 2 2001: Promoted to Division 1 via play-offs Jan 2002: Colin Lee replaces Graydon as boss 2004: Paul Merson replaces Lee. Relegated to League 1 Feb 2006: Kevan Broadhurst replaces Merson 2006: Relegated to League 2. Richard Money named boss 2007: Win League 2 title

"We're far too easy to play against, we're giving away easy goals and giving ourselves an uphill task by going 1-0 down so early.

"But defence starts from the front - we've got to defend as a unit.

"We all want to be up and challenging again, but it's no good feeling sorry for ourselves - we've got to pick ourselves up, and work hard until we get it right."

The calamitous 2005/06 season - with Wrack missing nearly the entire campaign with a broken leg - saw Walsall, managed by Paul Merson and then Kevan Broadhurst, relegated after finishing bottom of League One.

Money, who had managed Scunthorpe in the early 1990s before spells in Sweden and Australia, was not a particularly well-known figure when he was asked to take over.

But the Saddlers' board were rewarded for choosing the man the fans dubbed "Dick Dosh" when they bounced back at the first opportunity, winning the League Two title.

"The manager's done a wonderful job since he's been here, he's taken us places and got us promotion," Wrack said.

We've got nothing to be afraid of in this division Darren Wrack

"But the reason we're not winning games at the moment is because of us, the players.

"The manager can only do so much and say so much - we've got to perform on a consistent basis.

"But we've got nothing to be afraid of in this division. I've played with many players in my time here, and this is a good team.

"We've played a few of the fancied teams and acquitted ourselves well without having the rub of the green, but we can't use that as an excuse.