Oldham 1 Walsall 0 - Report and pictures

Walsall fell to back-to-back league defeats for the first time since February 2015 after slipping to a 1-0 loss at Oldham.

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A second-half goal from Curtis Main proved to be enough for the rejuvenated Latics, who have now moved out of the League One relegation zone.

In a keenly-contested clash at Boundary Park, Jon Whitney's side had their chances with Jordy Hiwula going close either side of the interval.

But the Saddlers were unable to find a way through, with the result seeing them drop to sixth position in the table.

Whitney made a bold statement in naming his starting line-up, with the Saddlers lining up in a 4-3-3 formation for this first time this campaign.

The system saw recalls for Hiwula and Anthony Forde who started in wide roles with Tom Bradshaw the central striker.

In defence, Andy Taylor was preferred at left-back to Rico Henry with Romaine Sawyers and Sam Mantom operating slightly ahead of Adam Chambers.

For Oldham, former Walsall defender Anthony Gerrard started at centre-back.

Despite sitting in the League One relegation zone, Oldham entered the game having lost just twice in their last 13 games, with John Sheridan's side also having kept three straight clean-sheets.

But it was the Saddlers who started on the front foot, with Whitney's men coming close to opening the scoring in the 17th minute.

A wonderful piece of skill from Sawyers allowed him to escape the attentions of an Oldham defender, with the St Kitts & Nevis international then playing Hiwula in on goal.

The striker looked to lift the ball over the on-rushing Joel Coleman, but the goalkeeper just made himself big enough to block the effort.

Buoyed, Walsall continued to press with Forde bursting into the box and hitting a well-struck shot which cannoned off the back of Cameron Dummigan.

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Whitney's men were on top but they could have found themselves a goal behind, as the half-reached its mid-way point with full-back Tareiq Holmes-Dennis' whipping in a wonderful cross.

The ball was met by Main 15 yards from goal, with the forward producing a thunderous half-volley which whistled past the post.

Walsall's new system was proving very flexible with the likes of Sawyers, Hiwula and Forde given licence to roam around the pitch.

It was the Saddlers who continued on the front foot, with Sam Mantom hitting a curling effort from 25 yards that Coleman just about tipped onto the roof of his net.

Oldham responded, with Matthew Palmer producing a diving save from goalkeeper Neil Etheridge with a free-kick from 30-yards.

It was Walsall though who continued to pose the greater threat as the clock ticked towards half-time.

But they almost found themselves behind at the break when Paul Downing dallied on the edge of the area, allowing Jonathan Forte to nip-in.

The forward looked to take the ball around Etheridge, but the goalkeeper expertly forced him wide with Forte then only able to find the side netting from a narrow angle.

Oldham threatened first after the interval. with defender James Wilson bundling the ball wide after Jason Demetriou had given away a needless free-kick wide on the left.

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But, as the clocked ticked towards the hour mark, the game had become more of a battle with both teams enjoying spells of possession but struggling to create clear-cut chances.

Minutes later, though, and the home side were ahead after Forte did brilliantly to brush off the challenge of Matt Pennington and get to the byline.

The forward cut the ball back to Main 12-yards from goal, with the on-loan Doncaster man then firing a low-strike beyond Etheridge and into the corner of the net.

With the wind in their sails, Oldham came close to doubling their lead when Mike Jones flashed a strike just wide from 25-yards.

Whitney responded with Milan Lalkovic coming on for Forde. Jordan Cook was then introduced for Bradshaw with the Saddlers top scorer having picked up a knock.

Shortly after, Hiwula tried his luck with fierce drive from 20-yards but the ball was too close to Coleman who comfortably claimed.

With just 10 minutes remaining, the Saddlers began throwing men forward in a bid to find an equaliser.

They should have found it when a neat one-two saw Cook feed Hiwula. The striker was centrally placed 18-yards out, but fired wildly over with the entire goal to aim at.

Whitney made his final change moments later, with Kieron Morris replacing Mantom.

Then with the fourth official indicating four minutes of stoppage time, Demetriou burst into the box but saw a strike well blocked by an Oldham defender.