WALSALL boss Colin Lee believes his players suffered stage fright as Burnley cruised to victory at the Bescot Stadium.
Lee said: "It was an under-performance to say the least and that's disappointing given the importance of the game. It's as if the occasion got to us a little bit and that affected our energy levels.
"When you turn up for each match you have to be ready and I sensed there was something not quite right before this game.
"You wouldn't expect that nervousness given the experience in the dressing room, but perhaps we have that. That nervousness takes the energy away - I've seen it before and that's goes a long way towards explaining that performance.
"We huffed and puffed, but didn't really deserve anything to be honest. We won a game last week when a penalty decision went for us and we lost one today through another decision, but I've no arguments with it."
Lee, whose side face another stern test at Gillingham today, added: "We couldn't get any rhythm going and we had too many players who under-performed.
"A lot of my players knew that after the game, but sometimes that happens. There's a lot of football to be played yet though and anyone who thinks they are home and dry is wrong."
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