Walsall debrief: Knocked off top spot, set pieces and Daniel Kanu strikes again

But Kian Harratt headed in a late winner in the final seconds to consign Walsall to a first defeat in seven games.

Here are the key talking points from the defeat.

Knocked off top spot

Walsall started the evening with a slender one-point lead at the League Two summit, but had dropped to third by 10pm on Monday. 

Bromley finished the year as the new league leaders following a 3-1 win at Crawley Town and Swindon Town leapfrogged Walsall on goal difference with a 2-0 success at Cheltenham Town. 

The air is getting extremely tight around the summit. Only seven points separate Bromley and Cambridge United, who Walsall face on New Year's Day, in eighth.

Set piece frustration 

Both of the Latics' goals came from set pieces, which came as a real frustration for Mat Sadler, who has prided himself on his team's defensive resilience this term. 

Prior to the visit of Oldham, Walsall had kept four clean sheets in six league games and had gone unbeaten in the process. 

First, Joe Garner escaped the auspices of Evan Weir with ease at the back post to open the scoring from Ryan Woods' corner.

Then, substitute Kian Harratt bullied his way in front of Charlie Lakin to glance another Woods' delivery into the far corner. 

Kanu strikes again 

A moment of magic hauled Walsall back into the game five minutes after half-time when he powered an audacious finish with his so-called weaker foot past Matt Hudson from the tightest angles.

That moved the 21-year-old on to double figures for goals in the league and extended his season tally to 12 across all competitions. 

There is a growing concern that Walsall are beginning to become reliant on the Charlton Athletic loanee, who has scored 32.3 per cent of their 32 goals in League Two.

Only Oldham frontman Michael Mellon (33.3%) and Michael Cheek for Bromley (32.4%) have scored a bigger ratio of their team's goals this season.

Open play concerns 

One of the biggest disappointments was the Saddlers' lack of creativity in open play. 

Weir forced a smart early save from Matt Hudson which stemmed from the second phase of an early corner. 

Courtney Clarke hit the woodwork twice directly from corners and Kanu's stunning strike was the only real moment of ruthlessness from open play. 

Walsall have been renowned as a low-possession team under Sadler and appear to find it difficult to breakdown opponents whenever they're tasked with having more of the ball. 

So it was no surprise that Walsall had 54 per cent possession, nor was it when they had 64 per cent and 59 per cent in home defeats against Barrow and Colchester United respectively earlier in the campaign. 

Farquharson injury 

Priestley Farquharson was recalled to the team as one of two changes, but saw his evening cut short after a clash of heads with Garner. 

Sadler confirmed afterwards that Farquharson required stitches above his eye, but is hopeful he will be available for the New Year's Day trip to Cambridge United.