O'Connor played almost 150 league games for the Saddlers

Walsall's poor attendances in League One this season have not come as much of a surprise to assistant manager Martin O'Connor.

The Saddlers have the second lowest average gate in the division and the match against Yeovil last week drew their smallest league crowd since 1997.

"Sometimes you've got to blame the product, we'll hold our hands up for that," O'Connor told BBC WM.

"Sometimes people don't realise the catchment area of Walsall."

He added: "There's Aston Villa in the Premiership, Birmingham City in the Premiership, Wolverhampton Wanderers in the Premiership and Albion riding high in the Championship.

"I've been here in the Championship when we we only just scraping seven or eight thousand, so I know where the club is."

O'Connor is also keen to point out that Saddlers supporters have not necessarily seen the best of the team's efforts at the Banks's Stadium.

"Our performances at home haven't been as good as our performances away," he acknowledged.

"We're 10th in the table, we're trying to do our best and the players are trying to do their best. If the crowds don't improve, if the fans don't want to come and watch and support, then that's up to them. It's their choice."

Only Hartlepool have a lower average gate than Walsall's 4,096, and the Saddlers have already entertained the big travelling supports from Leeds, Norwich and Southampton.

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