Walsall 0 Oldham 1

Walsall slumped to a third straight defeat after going down to a one-goal defeat against Oldham at the Banks's Stadium.

Chris Taylor's deflected first-half opener won it for the visitors, who comfortably held out as the suspected Saddlers revival never came.

Will Grigg's second-half header hit the post and Adam Chambers shot wide late on but the hosts rarely threatened.

Winger David Martin made an instant debut after signing from Derby County on loan for a month, with Claude Gnakpa sidelined with a hamstring injury.

Jon Macken and Darryl Westlake were missing following Saturday's 2-1 defeat at Notts County, as Lee Beevers and Will Grigg returned.

Taylor tested goalkeeper David Grof and Richard Taundry shot over as the teams traded early blows but the Saddlers struggled to get going – symptomatic of their recent performances.

And, slowly, the Latics began to threaten as they took the lead on 29 minutes.

Robbie Simpson's run opened up the hosts, Reuben Reid's cross found Taylor and his shot clipped Andy Butler, deceived Grof and trickled into the corner.

Oldham grew in confidence as the Saddlers wilted but Manny Smith headed wide and Ryan Jarvis stung the palms of goalkeeper Alex Cisak just before half time.

The Saddlers failed to improve after the break and Reid almost made it 2-0 on 57 minutes, when his scooped effort was clawed away by a combination of Grof and Butler.

Grigg's header hit the post as the Saddlers tried to rally and Alex Nicholls blazed over, following Chambers' neat pass.

Grof's outstretched leg then denied Reid a second 10 minutes from time and Chambers' shot at the death was deflected wide, as the Saddlers failed to rescue a point.