WALSALL 1, OLDHAM ATHLETIC 1
Oldham Athletic maintained their standing as the Sky Bet League Two side with the best away record following a creditable draw at Walsall.
Davis Keillor-Dunn’s second-half equaliser earned Latics a 22nd points on their travels from 12 matches, a remarkable return which contrasts sharply with their fortunes at Boundary Park.
In that table, Latics are bottom with seven points from a possible 36 as that is the root of their ills.
Head coach Harry Kewell rang the changes following the dismal home defeat by Mansfield Town four days earlier.
There were seven as Coventry City loanee Marcel Hilssner was handed his debut.
After an uneventful opening, Walsall had the chance to take an 18th minute lead when Latics’ goalkeeper Ian Lawlor did well to keep out Josh Gordon’s shot with his legs.
Wes McDonald then had a chance for the Saddlers but couldn’t hit the target.
Latics’ best chance in the first-half fell to Danny Rowe from around 35-yards, but his powerful strike went over Liam Roberts’ crossbar.
However, Darrell Clarke’s side took the lead just before the break when defender Zak Jules’ shot was cleared off the line by Harry Clarke, but the assistant referee adjudged the ball to have crossed the line.
Shortly after half-time, new-boy Hilssner nearly got on the scoresheet in his first game of English football when he took a short corner with Rowe and curled a cross which nearly caught out goalkeeper Roberts at the near post.
The Saddlers came close to doubling their lead when Jack Nolan delivered an in-swinging cross from the right which was met by Gordon whose header was saved by Lawlor.
Kewell made a double change in the 63rd minute with the introduction of Ben Garrity and Keillor-Dunn as they looked for a way back into the game.
Once again, Hilssner caused the hosts problems and, this time, the midfielder’s 30-yard swerving shot was parried by Roberts while Conor McAleny’s follow-up effort was blocked.
Latics equalised with 15 minutes left through Keillor-Dunn. Rowe provided the assist to the midfielder who kept his cool and slotted a shot past Roberts to give his side the hope of winning the match.
Walsall almost regained the lead within one minute when Alfie Bates crossed onto the head of former Latics’ defender Mat Sadler, but he couldn’t direct his attempt on target.
With time running out, there only looked like one winner with Kewell’s men dominating. The closest his side came to taking all three points happened in added time when McAleny met a cross but his half volley cleared the crossbar.
Oldham Athletic: Lawlor, Clarke, Borthwick-Jackson, Jombati, Rowe, Fage, Ntambwe (Garrity 63), McAleny, Hilssner (Jameson 83), McCalmont (Keillor-Dunn 63), Hamer (Bahamboula 46). Subs (not used): Bilboe, Piergianni, Badan.
Goals: Jules, 45, for Walsall. Keillor-Dunn, 75, for Oldham.