United goalkeeper Casper Ankergren was left fuming after Walsall's winning goal at Elland Road on Tuesday.

The big Dane appeared to have clawed away Clayton McDonald's effort late on, but an assistant referee ruled the ball had crossed the line and Walsall went on to win the game.

"I don't think so," said Casper, when asked if he felt the ball had crossed the line. "That was my first instinct and you go with that. I was surprised the linesman lifted the flag.

"I said to him after the game that I didn't think it was in and he said 'it was that much in', but if I thought it was in I would be honest and say it.

"It was a big loss for us, but we have to bounce back now and get back to doing the right things and if we can get two wins in a row it will lift the whole thing. Hopefully we can get back on track on Saturday."

The defeat was United's first at home in the league in 27 matches - Carlisle were the last side to win a league game at Elland Road on January 10 2009 - but with two more back-to-back home games against Brighton and Oldham, United have an immediate chance to return to winning ways.

"It's a massive disappointment, especially to lose to Walsall," said Casper.

"If you are going to lose, you'd rather lose to teams who are better than you and, with all respect, I don't think they are.

"It was a chance to close on Norwich, but it's gone now and we have to get ready for Saturday.

"We start again with Brighton on Saturday which will be very difficult. There's nothing easy, but we'll have to put more hard work in.

"These are spells that you come through and hopefully we will get through it. You always get tough times it's how you get through them.

"We lost a game, that's it. We can't do anything about it, we have to get back on it again."

See LUTV's multi-camera highlights of the game from 10pm Wednesday...