Harrogate Town failed to 'lay a glove' on 'heavyweight' Walsall FC during fourth consecutive home defeat

The struggling Sulphurites slid into the League Two relegation zone on Saturday afternoon following a 2-0 loss, which leaves them winless in seven matches.

And in truth, they were thoroughly second best for the duration of the contest, failing to ask any questions of a Saddlers team who looked totally comfortable throughout and won the game at a canter.

With Walsall top of the table and injury-hit Town struggling at the opposite end, Weaver reasoned that his players were “always going to be up against it”, but had to concede that the gulf in class was significant.

“A bit of quality separated the teams in quite a drab first half, and then second half, we just didn’t lay a glove in terms of quality against a really good outfit, who were at full strength,” he told BBC Radio York.

"We are understrength at the minute and we grafted, but fell short against top opposition for the level.

"We were always going to be up against it. We wanted to put up a fight, and I thought that we did for 41 minutes until we succumbed when a great bit of play has left us for dead.

“These are good lads, who want to do well, but when the pressure was on against top opposition like Walsall, we have come up short.”

Daniel Kanu’s clinical 43rd-minute finish handed Walsall the lead before Priestley Farquharson headed home from a corner late on to wrap things up for Walsall.

And Weaver said that there was no denying that his side were unable to cope with their visitors’ power and physicality.

"It was like a lightweight boxer coming up against a heavyweight, we were outmuscled,” he added. "You could see the size of Walsall and I knew that they would go massive.

"They are a huge team, and we went as big as possible to stay in the fight, which was a policy that worked, because set-pieces were contested a lot better than they were for their second goal.

"If you start with the team that we finished with, then you look limp against such a massive unit.

"They are in a good spot as a club, and they are able to recruit these big boys, who cost money, and it has a big effect at this level because they can just lean on you physically in fractious games.

"It gives you physicality and edge, and credit to Walsall, I think that they will take some stopping.”

The combination of Town’s sixth loss in seven League Two outings and Cheltenham’s 1-0 win at home to Bristol Rovers sees the Sulphurites drop one place to 23rd in the table.