WALSALL 2, OLDHAM ATHLETIC 1
Oldham Athletic manager John Sheridan’s verdict of his side’s Sky Bet League One defeat at Walsall was damning.
“We need five or six new players,” declared Sheridan after his side suffered a third straight defeat in league and cup, a miserable start to their campaign.
Yet this was the side that Sheridan had assembled having been at the club since January so the excuses don’t wash as they are the players he either retained or brought in.
Latics started well and took a first-half lead through Ryan McLaughlin.
Joe Edwards equalised for the Saddlers in the second half and Erhun Oztumer came up with a 90th minute winner.
Oldham Athletic fell to a defeat as Erhun Oztumer’s goal in the 90th minute won the game for Walsall.
Sheridan made three changes to the side which went out of the Carabao Cup in midweek.
Mason Fawns was handed his debut as Sheridan’s side lined up in a 4-3-3 formation with Aaron Amadi-Holloway in the centre of the attack. Craig Davies and Ollie Banks also won recalls as Brian Wilson, Paul Green and Courtney Duffus lost out.
After a lukewarm opening, in which both sides had chances, Latics took the lead through McLaughlin.
The winger received the ball wide, crossed into the box towards Davies – he might have got a touch – but it deceived the goalkeeper and nestled in the back of the net.
Confident Latics almost doubled their lead just before the break as Holloway raced at the defence and shot from 25 yards but Mark Gillspie saved.
Bakayoko headed over from six yards after 50 minutes, and two minutes later Walsall were level.
A corner into the box was not dealt with and the ball found Edwards on the edge of the box and his shot found the net with the help of a deflection.
The lively Oztumer almost put the home side ahead after the hour mark.
Luke Leahy headed across the box to Oztumer but the striker’s header went inches wide of Wilson’s goal.
Sheridan made changes and switched to a 3-5-2 formation but they had to be wary of Walsall as Oztumer struck the upright and the ball eventually rebounded to Bakayoko but he could not convert from close range.
Latics almost retook the lead with 10 minutes remaining as McLaughlin, who was a bright spark all afternoon, hit a shot from 25 yards that Gillespie tipped around the post.
The Saddlers took the lead in the final minute of the game as a long throw in found Oztumer at the back post and he fired past Wilson to win the game for the hosts.
Latics almost equalised in the dying seconds of the game but Tope Obadeyi’s header was well saved by Gillespie.
Oldham Athletic (4-3-3): Wilson; Dummigan, Clarke, Gerrard, Hunt; Fane, Fawns (Wilson 67), Banks; McLaughlin, Davies (Obadeyi 67), Holloway (Duffus 84). Subs (not used): Kyeremeh, Edmundson, Mantack, Osei,
Goals: Edwards (53), Oztumer (90) for Walsall. McLaughlin 32 for Oldham.
Attendance: 4,419