Walsall 3-0 Oldham: Unbeaten Saddlers return to winning ways

Walsall returned to winning ways with a commanding 3-0 triumph over Oldham Athletic at Bescot.

Tai Sodje scored his fourth goal in three games on 21 minutes when he latched onto Jed Ward’s ball in behind to finish past Mathew Hudson.

Aaron Pressley broke in behind to score the second six minutes later and moved on to eight goals for the season when he converted his penalty just before the hour.

Elicha Ahui was sent off for pulling down Favour Fawumni as he threatened to go clean through, but Walsall comfortably extended their unbeaten start to 11 games in League Two.

Lee Grant’s charges had not been on home soil in the league in 31 days and returned to Bescot off the back of three successive draws in League Two.

The Walsall head coach made four changes from the latest stalemate at Swindon, as James Furlong made his first league start.

Ahui, Charlie Crew and Lewis Simper were also recalled, as Ryan Leak, Mason Hancock, Sven Sprangler and Reece Smith dropped to the bench.

It was a frantic start to proceedings and the quick tempo was maintained for the majority of the first half.

Walsall started the stronger of the two teams, although Ward had to be quick off his line to smother Oliver Norburn’s finish. Favour Fawumni threatened to pounce on the loose ball, but Ahui made a vital intervention.

The breakthrough arrived on 21 minutes when Ward released Sodje with an astonishing drilled pass through the centre. Sodje wheeled away from ex-Walsall defender Manny Monthe and slipped his finish into the far bottom corner.

Oldham were struggling to contain the balls in behind their defence and Pressley seized on another one to double the Saddlers’ lead just six minutes later

Skura swept his pass down the inside channel and Pressley escaped the offside trap to break in behind and finish past Hudson at his near post.

Kane Drummond was inches away from halving the deficit when his header whistled wide, but Sodje came just as close at the other end with a glancing header.

The second half was just as eventful and Ahui came agonisingly close to connecting with Clarke’s powerful low cross on the slide.

Walsall did add a third just before the hour-mark when Pressley converted, after Oldham were penalised for a handball inside the box.

Ahui was given his early marching orders for pulling down last-man Fawumni, but Walsall still maintained an attacking threat.

Sodje saw his powerful effort deflect over, before substitute Smith had a shot from an acute angle cleared off the line.

Substitute Andy Dallas then had a thumping effort beaten away by Hudson in stoppage time.

Next, Walsall welcome Salford City to Bescot on Monday evening next week.

Teams

Walsall (4-2-3-1): Ward; Ahui (red card - 61), Connolly (c), Skura, Furlong (Hancock 68); Crew (Sprangler 63), Moore; Clarke (Leak 63), Sodje (Dallas 79), Simper; Pressley (Smith 68).

Not used: Wooster, Adomah.

Oldham (4-2-3-1): Hudson; Sutton, Daniels (Scott-Morriss 70), Monthe, Robson; Norburn, Appiah-Forson; Drummond, Pett (Fondop 50), Fawumni; Kavanagh.

Not used: Wilson, Temple, Payne, Hammond, Hill.

Referee: Alan Dale

Attendance: 5,147 (728)