ZAT Knight reckons Wanderers have let their standards slip since returning from their US tour.

The big defender is calling for immediate improvement after criticising the performance in the 3-0 defeat to Oldham Athletic on Wednesday night.

The squad head for Scotland today for a mini-tour that will take in games against Falkirk tomorrow night and St Johnstone on Monday.

And Knight hopes the setback at Boundary Park will help spark a reaction in time for the season opener against Fulham in 15 days’ time.

“Maybe the result against Oldham will give us the right kick up the backside,” said Knight. “I can probably say more about where we are as a team after the game on Saturday. It’s pre-season and you have to get the bad habits out. But we should have done a lot better than that, regardless of the standard of opposition we were facing.

“A lot of people didn’t turn up and maybe some of us thought we’d turn up and roll right over them.”

Owen Coyle admitted his team need to improve significantly on their use of the ball, having failed to break down two League One teams in the last five days in open play.

“We’ve trained hard, so that it can last us an entire season – not just a midweek friendly at Oldham,” he said.

“The passing and movement has to get better, we know that. They are an honest bunch and they know they have been below par. But I have been over to America for the last three years, and I do know it takes a week or so to get right again. I’ve got no doubts the lads will bounce back.”

Meanwhile, Knight was not surprised to hear team-mate Andy O’Brien’s revelation earlier this week that he was considering a move away from the Reebok.

The experienced former Republic of Ireland international is considering offers from other clubs after falling down the defensive pecking order under Owen Coyle.

“It would be a shame to see him go because he’s an experienced pro,” said Knight.

“He is getting on a bit but I can understand that you just want to play football.

“He might consider dropping down a division or maybe one of the teams that has just come up into the Premier League.

“I’m not too sure what his options are but I definitely understand that as you get older, you want to play regularly because you might only have a few years left.

“Gaz Cahill is obviously going to play week-in, week-out, and hopefully if I can play like I did towards the end of last season, I’ll be doing that as well.”