Troy Deeney’s double salvo extended Walsall’s unbeaten run to five games as they easily overcame 10-man Oldham at the Banks’s.

The striker took his tally to six for the campaign with two excellent finishes and supplied the pass for Steve Jones to score his seventh goal in eight games.

Oldham’s Lee Hills saw red just before the break for a crude lunge on Jones and, from then, the Saddlers never looked in any danger of losing the points.

The Latics struggled and Joe Colbeck’s late header against the bar was the sum total of their efforts.

Josh O’Keefe was handed his full debut after Dwayne Mattis picked up a knock in Saturday’s 1-1 draw at Brentford. It was the midfielder’s first start since his arrival from Blackburn in the summer – and only his second appearance.

Elsewhere it was as you were for the Saddlers, who were looking to extend their unbeaten run to five games.

In an open start, both sides looked lively going forward without seriously threatening and it took until the 17th minute for the first chance – Danny Whitaker firing wide for the visitors.

But, three minutes later, Walsall took the lead when Jones fed Darren Byfield and his far post cross was expertly turned in from close range by Deeney.

Oldham’s response was muted as, aside from a few corners to defend, the Saddlers were comfortable.

Manny Smith and Mark Hughes batted away the Latics’ attempt to break through and Hills hindered their cause when he received a straight red on 42 minutes.

Rhys Weston found Jones and, as the winger threatened to break, the left-back rashly flew in and almost cut the 33-year-old in half.

Jones, after treatment, then produced the perfect response in first half injury time and doubled the Saddlers’ lead, coolly chipping goalkeeper Darryl Flahavan following Deeney’s throughball.

The hosts smelled blood and Flahavan denied Byfield and Jones 20 seconds after the break.

Oldham offered little and created even less as the Saddlers kept possession, but had yet to really carve out any more second half opportunities.

They had to wait until the 80th minute to finally settle the game when Deeney expertly took down Mark Bradley’s pass and finished.

Riled by the third, the Latics launched an attack and Joe Colbeck headed against the bar but the Saddlers cruised home.