Earlier today, Walsall Football Club's first-team travelled to Greater Manchester to take on Oldham Athletic in the latest Sky Bet League One match of the season. Bescot Banter columnist Pete Sadler was in attendance, and shares his Match Report below.
Following the away win in midweek Walsall travelled north once again to take on Oldham Athletic, a place where we managed to take all three points last season, however a team who hasn't lost at home since mid-August.
A number of changes to the starting line-up, some forced and a couple by choice. With Romaine Sawyers absent on international duty with St Kitts & Nevis Ashley Grimes came into the side, mid-week goalscorer Mathieu Manset dropped to the bench with Jordan Cook being favoured, Andy Taylor seemed to have picked up an injury and was replaced by Malvind Benning.
Following the away win in midweek Walsall travelled north once again to take on Oldham Athletic, a place where we managed to take all three points last season, however a team who hasn't lost at home since mid-August.
A number of changes to the starting line-up, some forced and a couple by choice. With Romaine Sawyers absent on international duty with St Kitts & Nevis Ashley Grimes came into the side, mid-week goalscorer Mathieu Manset dropped to the bench with Jordan Cook being favoured, Andy Taylor seemed to have picked up an injury and was replaced by Malvind Benning.
Not surprisingly there was a cagey start with neither team in the ascendancy, however out of nothing a chipped ball forward found Cook who coolly finished at the near post to give the travelling Saddlers something to cheer.
Despite being a goal to the good the away side didn't settle into their stride and were immediately under pressure, leading to mistakes at the back from O'Donnell and Benning on separate occasions which went un-punished as The Lactics failed to capitalise. It was only a matter of time however and the equaliser was coming. It came following a blocked shot in the box which fell to Connor Wilkinson who blasted home to restore parity after half an hour.
The only other action of note from an otherwise uneventful first half was some nonsense involving Andy Butler and Dominic Poleon. A left in boot incensed the on-loan Butler who made sure to drop a shoulder in when passing shortly after...in turn causing handbags at 10 paces. Butler was booked and Poleon walked away with a talking too. From that point on little went the way of the away side decisions-wise.
At half-time I expected the lads to come out with fresh ideas and a better understanding of how to take the fight to the opposition, as we have seen last week at home to Bristol City. I got the total opposite.
The changes made by Deano were mostly what the man on the terrace would have made; Manset introduced for Grimes as the first change after about 10 minutes of the second period, Morris for Forde on 62 minutes who I felt was unlucky to be replaced instead of Baxendale who was ineffective, and finally Clifford being substituted for Flanagan with 15 minutes to go. I don't think anyone could have complained about being taken off today.
All the substitutions had been made by the the decisive moment of the match came. A long range effort from Mike Jones which took a deflection off Benning looping the shot over the head of O'Donnell in the Walsall goal. A hammer blow to the travelling fans, especially given the warmth of reception we were afforded by the locals. Delightful.
So 2-1 down with 10 minutes to go, you would think that the ball would be played more directly to Manset and Butler, the latter being moved forward for a physical presence. You thought wrong. Patient and cautious, slow and languid passing around the back and down the flanks was hardly what was needed. The one chance fell to Manset in the box who lashed the ball high, wide and not so handsome. Not a shot on target in the whole of the second half.
F/T: Oldham Athletic 2 Walsall 1
A disappointing result which adds to our inconsistency. Yes we can beat any team but we can equally lose any given fixture at the moment. The injury list grows and Andy Butler's imminent departure back to parent club, Sheffield United, give Smith plenty to mull over for next week's home match with fellow strugglers, Crewe. Is it too early to label matches 'must win' fixtures?
By: Pete Sadler.
RESULT OLDHAM ATHLETIC 2 WALSALL 1
GOALS Wilkinson 31', Jones 75' -- Cook 10'
AT: Boundary Park, Oldham.
ATTENDANCE: 4,178 (363 Walsall)
REFEREE: Mr. Carl Boyeson, East Yorkshire.
WALSALL O'Donnell; O'Connor, Downing, Butler , Benning; Baxendale, Forde (Morris 68'), A.Chambers; Grimes (Manset 55'), Clifford (Flanagan 74'), Cook
SUBS NOT USED MacGillivray; J.Chambers, Purkiss, Henry
OLDHAM ATHLETIC Rachubka, B.Wilson, J.Wilson, Dieng, Mills, Jones, Kelly, Winchester (Dayton 74'), Philliskirk, Poleon (Ibehre 55'), Wilkinson (Forte 74')
SUBS NOT USED Coleman, Brown, Tidser, Turner
SUBS NOT USED Coleman, Brown, Tidser, Turner