Walsall were defeated 3-1 by Oldham Athletic in a disappointing performance by the Saddlers.
Walsall made a good start on a rain-soaked pitch and took the game’s first chance. Jaiy Leydon forced a good near post save by Alfie Brindley in the Oldham net after a move started by right back Harrison Vaughan. A promising start was quickly undone when The Saddlers failed to clear a floated cross to the back post, allowing The Latics’ Samtee Chukwugbo to send the ball past a stranded Jenson Kilroy. The home side came within five minutes of equalising, but the final piece of quality was missing as Leydon blasted his shot across the goal.
Walsall’s fortunes did not improve as they gave the ball away cheaply before a ball cut through their back line. Collins Kagame calmly slotted the ball under Kilroy to double Oldham’s lead. Oldham appeared to be on track for their first victory of the season after going three goals up. Samtee Chukwugbo completed his hat-trick by pick-pocketing Kilroy in the six-yard box and sending the ball past a scrambling Kilroy. On the 60-minute mark, Walsall re-entered the game. Charlie Wragg scored a wonderful goal against Leydon. The number 11 scored to cut the home team’s deficit to two. Celebrations were cut short when second-half substitute Will Uchenna was sent off.
Walsall came within one goal of the visitors when Leydon’s powerful shot was saved by Brindley onto the crossbar.
Despite being a man down, Walsall pressed for a way back into the game, coming close five minutes from time when Dylan Thomas orchestrated a move that resulted in his own shot taking a double deflection and going wide of the post. Walsall’s disappointing first half would make the second half challenge too difficult to overcome, handing Oldham their first league victory of the season. “I think it could be our worst performance of the season,” Professional Development Phase Coach Ryan Simmonds said.
We tried a different formation to gain control of the ball, but the players didn’t quite grasp the concept of having to pass the ball multiple times before progressing rather than simply kicking the ball long, which was disappointing.
“Especially after working all week on the game plan. But once we got down to ten men, we actually started to play and control the game better, which is crazy to say, but as I’m learning with this group, this is what happens when they go against the norm.
