Paul Merson admits his biggest fear when he took over at Walsall was that the team would not score enough goals. Three months into the job, Mersons attacking approach has swiftly corrected that - the only problem is that Walsall cant stop conceding goals either. The draw with Barnsley means the Saddlers have now conceded 11 goals in four games and Merson knows his side will stay in mid-table unless they tighten up in defence and become hard to beat. We are letting in too many goals, it is just bad defending, said Merson. If there was one thing I was worried about when I took the job, it was scoring goals. I thought the least of my worries was going to be letting them in. The player- manager responded to suggestions that his side is too attack-minded by opting to drop himself for the visit of Barnsley, so he could assess the match from the sidelines. However, Merson saw nothing at Bescot to suggest his prognosis was incorrect. Barnsley looked capable of scoring with most attacks and the Saddlers twice had to come from behind to snatch a draw. Matt Fryatt cancelled out Tony Vaughans opener with his fourth goal of the season and Darren Wracks last-minute free-kick rescued a point after Barry Conlons header restored Barnsleys advantage. Merson, whose side have won just one of their first four games, said: We got out of jail because we scored in the last minute, but you cant keep on doing that every week. I tell them they are the best team in the league and the best players - they have to believe that. I wouldnt swap any of my lads for any of the players we have played against so far. Walsalls carefree tactics are a far cry from Colin Lees regimented approach, but even supporters who criticised Mersons predecessors unadventurous style must look back with envy at their teams organisation then. It is even more puzzling because the defence - with the exception of goalkeeper Jimmy Walker - has changed very little from last term and they are playing against weaker sides following relegation. Nevertheless, Wrack, whose equaliser was exquisite, says the answer to the teams troubles lies on the training field. He said: We have to learn to defend as a team because we are giving goals away left, right and centre - it is no good. We cant expect to score two or three goals every week and concede at the other end. We have to shore up at the back and we have to stop goals going in quick. We have got the personnel, we have to work on it in training and well work at it until we get it right. Going forward, I wouldnt change us for the world. We are capable of scoring two or three goals a game but, at the same time, we cant concede two or three. If we are scoring two goals a game and we can keep a clean sheet, then you dont have to be a mathematician to work out what will happen. Indeed...with Walsalls attendance down from 8,225 on the opening day to 6,059 on Saturday, crowds will continue to fall unless the Saddlers start winning again. Walsall (4-3-1-2): Paston; Bazeley (Williams I, 61), Roper, Emblen, Bennett; Osborn, Kinsella (Standing, 51), Taylor; Wrack; Leit"o, Fryatt (Atieno, 80). Subs: McKinney, Birch. Barnsley (4-5-1): Colgan; Hassell, Carbon, Vaughan, Williams T; Kay, McPhail (Wroe, 34), Reid, Boulding, Shuker; Conlon. Subs: Scarsella, Austin, Stallard, Nardiello. Referee: K Wright (Cambridgeshire). Attendance: 6059 | 
