Simon Grayson is calling on his players to draw on the experience of Tuesday's defeat at home to Walsall and is challenging them to come out fighting again.

The 2-1 home defeat at Walsall came almost 12 months on from last season's 2-0 reverse at Hereford, a result which proved to be a huge turning point for the club.

While the circumstances are different this season - United are second in the league and well-placed for promotion - the boss is looking for a similar response from his players this time around.

Grayson's players responded to the Hereford game last season by going on an 11-game unbeaten run and only lost one of the final 15 games of the campaign.

"That night we threw things open to the players and we did it again on Tuesday," said the boss.

"I'm not one for having a go at the players after a game - at half-time I certainly did - but you have to reflect about what you can do and how you can affect the next game.

"The players have had their opinions and hopefully they will take on board what we have said. If we go on a run like we did after Hereford we will certainly get promoted.

"They were hurt by the experience at Hereford last season and they learnt from it, and they were hurt by Tuesday night as well.

"There's a huge disappointment when you lose games, but when you lose in the manner that we did on Tuesday it hurts even more.

"We have a great opportunity to get back at the weekend."

United remain in second place in the league, four points behind leaders Norwich City, and three ahead of third-placed Colchester United.

And the United manager remains confident that his players will go on and finish the job they started so spectacularly back in August.

"We're still in a good position," he said. "We're second in the league,  a few points off the top and few away from the team in third with a game in hand.

"We've built up an opportunity in the first half of the season and we have to see it through now - and I'm positive we will do that

"They need to reflect on the disappointment and come back on Thursday and show a desire in training to put things right.

"We have to stick together as a group. We've said all along that every team goes through a period in a season when things don't go right for you.

"We didn't get too carried away when we were eight or nine points clear at the top and we won't be getting too down with where we are now - but we'll work to put things right.

"We'll stick together on the football side and the fans will stick together. You can't go through a whole season playing well and winning every game.

"You have to come through the difficult times - we're having a little blip - but we're strong enough as a group and as a football club to come through."