Match ends, Walsall 2, Oldham Athletic 0.
WalsallWalsall2OldhamOldham Athletic0
Oldham's League One survival bid suffered a blow as they were beaten in an ill-tempered game at Walsall which they ended with nine men.
The score was harsh on the Latics, who matched their mid-table hosts despite the early dismissal of Lee Croft.
But they lost out to two late goals - an Erhun Oztumer penalty and an Amadou Bakayoko rocket - with Brian Wilson also sent off for the visitors, who remain three points above the drop zone, in between.
Oldham had made a bright start before Croft's 16th-minute dismissal for a reckless studs-up challenge on Jason McCarthy.
The 10 men still fashioned chances as Wilson's 20-yarder forced a diving save from Saddlers goalkeeper Neil Etheridge.
Walsall started to get on top towards the end of the half but Latics keeper Connor Ripley made a great block to stop Kieron Morris sweeping home Oztumer's low cross from 10 yards.
Oldham continued to more than match their hosts in the second half but Tope Obadeyi's free-kick shaved the post in their closest chance.
And Walsall snatched the points 11 minutes from time as Peter Clarke tripped Simeon Jackson in the area and Oztumer beat Ripley from the spot.
Wilson - booked in the first half - then saw a second yellow for a scuffle with Bakayoko, who latched on to Oztumer's through ball before firing into the top corner in the second minute of time added-on to secure Walsall's win.
Match report supplied by the Press Association.
Line-ups
Walsall
Formation 4-4-2
- 1EtheridgeBooked at 59mins
- 2EdwardsSubstituted forBakayokoat 69'minutesBooked at 82mins
- 3Laird
- 4O'Connor
- 5McCarthy
- 7Chambers
- 9JacksonSubstituted forMakrisat 83'minutes
- 10Oztumer
- 11Morris
- 14Osbourne
- 32O'Connell
Substitutes
- 6Dobson
- 13MacGillivray
- 18Randall-Hurren
- 20Bakayoko
- 24Roberts
- 33Makris
- 44Moussa
Oldham
Formation 4-4-2
- 1Ripley
- 27McLaughlin
- 5Gerrard
- 4WilsonBooked at 82mins
- 22Hunt
- 11CroftBooked at 16mins
- 6O'Neill
- 26ClarkeBooked at 78mins
- 10Holloway
- 28GreenSubstituted forFaneat 64'minutes
- 30ObadeyiSubstituted forErwinat 86'minutes
Substitutes
- 2Law
- 7Flynn
- 12Taylor
- 13Kettings
- 14Ngoo
- 19Erwin
- 24Fane
- Referee:
- John Brooks
- Attendance:
- 6,003
Match Stats
Home TeamWalsallAway TeamOldham
- Possession
- Home56%
- Away44%
- Shots
- Home12
- Away8
- Shots on Target
- Home5
- Away2
- Corners
- Home3
- Away4
- Fouls
- Home10
- Away6
Live Text
Post update
Full Time
Second Half ends, Walsall 2, Oldham Athletic 0.
Post update
Foul by Isaiah Osbourne (Walsall).
Post update
Aaron Holloway (Oldham Athletic) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Attempt missed. Erhun Oztumer (Walsall) left footed shot from the left side of the box is just a bit too high.
Goal!
Goal! Walsall 2, Oldham Athletic 0. Amadou Bakayoko (Walsall) left footed shot from the right side of the box to the centre of the goal. Assisted by Erhun Oztumer.
Post update
Foul by Amadou Bakayoko (Walsall).
Post update
Anthony Gerrard (Oldham Athletic) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Post update
Corner, Walsall. Conceded by Ryan McLaughlin.
Post update
Foul by Isaiah Osbourne (Walsall).
Post update
Ousmane Fane (Oldham Athletic) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Substitution
Substitution, Oldham Athletic. Lee Erwin replaces Tope Obadeyi.
Substitution
Substitution, Walsall. Andreas Makris replaces Simeon Jackson.
Booking
Amadou Bakayoko (Walsall) is shown the yellow card.
Dismissal
Brian Wilson (Oldham Athletic) is shown the red card for violent conduct.
Goal!
Goal! Walsall 1, Oldham Athletic 0. Erhun Oztumer (Walsall) converts the penalty with a left footed shot to the bottom right corner.
Booking
Peter Clarke (Oldham Athletic) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Post update
Penalty Walsall. Erhun Oztumer draws a foul in the penalty area.
Post update
Penalty conceded by Peter Clarke (Oldham Athletic) after a foul in the penalty area.
Post update
Corner, Walsall. Conceded by Peter Clarke.
