Latics vs. Walsall

Sky Bet League Two - Matchday 13

19 October 2021

Latics are looking to make it back-to-back wins at Boundary Park as they take on Walsall in Sky Bet League Two this evening (7:45pm KO).

Last time out, Oldham secured their first league win at home since the 9th of April with a comfortable 3-0 win over Stevenage.

Davis Keillor-Dunn bagged a brace whilst Dylan Bahamboula finished the scoring after taking the ball around the Boro ‘keeper.

Form Guide

Club News

19102021 Programme Walsall

18 October 2021

Walsall have not lost any of their last four games in all competitions.

Last time out they drew 0-0 with playoff hopefuls Leyton Orient.

Currently 18^th in the division, the Saddlers are two points ahead of Latics who will be hoping to leapfrog their opposition.

Elsewhere, Walsall have enjoyed success in the EFL Trophy, and they currently top their group table. They overcame Brighton and Hove Albion’s under 21 side 1-0 and then following a 1-1 draw with Northampton Town they were able to hold their nerve to win the penalty shootout, bagging the bonus point.

The Saddlers’ Last Six: W2 D2 L2

Leyton Orient 0-0 Walsall
Walsall 2-1 Salford City
Northampton Town 1-1 Walsall (EFL Trophy – Walsall won on pens)
Exeter City 2-2 Walsall
Walsall 1-2 Bristol Rovers
Newport County 2-1 Walsall

Head-to-Head

Meetings: 62

Latics wins: 23
Walsall wins: 24
Draws: 15

Scored - 84
Conceded - 95

Last season, Walsall picked up four of the possible six points from the games against Latics.

In the away fixture, a 75^th minute goal from Keillor-Dunn made sure Oldham didn’t leave empty handed.

At Boundary Park, Walsall won 3-2 with Dylan Fage and Carl Piergianni on the scoresheet for the hosts.

The last time that Latics beat Walsall came in October 2019. The blues were helped by a sending off to Mat Sadler early in the second half and goals from Scott Wilson and Desire Segbe Azankpo ensured they took full advantage at Boundary Park.

Watch Out For

Young striker Kieran Phillips has scored four goals in all competitions this season.

Kieran Phillips.jpg

The 21-year-old arrived at Walsall on loan from Sky Bet Championship side Huddersfield Town in July 2021.

As a youth player, Phillips spent time with Everton before moving onto his hometown club Huddersfield.

For the Terriers, Phillips has featured 10 times in the second tier without managing to get his name on the scoresheet.

In the Saddlers last win, he got things off to a brilliant start, giving Walsall the lead within the first minute.

Familiar Face

Latics fans may remember Conor Wilkinson.

Conor Wilkinson.jpg

Wilkinson had two separate loan spells at Boundary Park and scored three goals during his time with the club including one in a 2-1 win over his current employers Walsall.

He joined his current club this summer just gone following his contract coming to an end with Orient.

During Wilkinson’s time with the O’s, the forward scored 20 goals in 74 matches.

The 26-year-old has two league goals to his name this campaign including a dramatic 95^th minute winner in their 2-1 win over Salford.

In The Dugout

Matthew Taylor is the man in the dugout for the visitors.

Matt Taylor.jpg

Taylor joined Walsall in the summer, leaving his role at Premier League side Tottenham Hotspur.

His other coaching experience includes a brief stint as Swindon Town boss.

As a player, Taylor represented Portsmouth, Bolton Wanderers, West Ham United and Burnley in the Premier League. He also had spells at Luton Town, Northampton Town and Swindon.

Furthermore, the 39-year-old won three caps for the England under 21 side.

Match Officials

The official in the middle for the game is Ross Joyce.

Ross Joyce.jpg

Joyce last officiated an Latics game in October 2019 as we suffered a 1-0 against Macclesfield Town at Boundary Park. On that day, he handed out five yellow cards and zero red cards.

He's taken charge of eight games, so far, this campaign, handing out a total of 31 yellow cards and two red card.

Joyce will be assisted by Graeme Fyvie and Christopher Ward, with Peter Gooch the Fourth Official.

Sky Bet Odds

Latics have been made 7/5 favourites to make it back to back wins and leapfrog Walsall in the process.

Meanwhile, the Saddlers are 9/5 with the draw at 9/4.

Please gamble responsibly by clicking here. For more information visit: www.begambleaware.org

How To Follow The Game

Fixture News

18102021 Walsall Match Pass

18 October 2021

Live match action on the £10 'match pass' is available on iFollow Latics in the UK and overseas for supporters who can't attend in person with Roy Butterworth and Michael Brown who will be talking you through the match.

For more information, visit the iFollow Latics page by clicking here.

Alternatively, supporters can also follow the game with live updates on the club's official Twitter account: @OfficialOAFC.

Match Reports

Latics 1-3 Walsall

19 October 2021

Walsall will travel back to the West Midlands with all three points after putting three past Latics.

The Saddlers found themselves two-nil up at half-time courtesy of goals from Jack Earing and George Miller.

Hallam Hope managed to pull a goal for his side, however, all hope was wiped away when Emmanuel Osadebe added another for the visitors in the 85th minute.

On the back of an empathic win against Stevenage at the weekend, Keith Curle named one change for the clash against the Saddlers. The skipper, Carl Piergianni missed out due to suspension meaning Alan Sheehan took his place in the backline as well as his armband.

The first-half began in a cagey manner with the hosts having the best of the early opportunities. First, Jack Stobbs’ drilled cross found the path of the onrushing Zak Dearnley, however, the forward flicked over the crossbar from close range.

Following that, Sheehan picked up an early injury which meant he was replaced in the tenth minute by Hope. The substitute raced down the left-hand side before picking out Davis Keillor-Dunn, but the inform man’s attempt went straight at the ‘keeper.

In the 33rd minute, the Saddlers took the lead through former FC Halifax Town man, Earing. It arose as Jayson Leutwiler struggled to deal with a cross and parried into the path of the midfielder around 25-yards out and his strike found the bottom corner as he reeled away in celebration.

Carl Rushworth was called into action, again, when Keillor-Dunn’s cross found the feet of Dylan Bahamboula inside the area and he flicked his effort on target, but the Walsall shot-stopper managed to keep hold of it at the second time of asking after a scramble inside the six-yard box.

Matt Taylor witnessed his side double their advantage just before the interval. The visitors worked the ball inside the penalty area before the ball landed to Miller and the striker blasted his low effort into the back of the net from close range.

Early into the second-half, Stephen Ward tried his luck from distance, but the former Burnley full-back sliced his effort comfortably over Leutwiler’s crossbar.

Curle outfit piled pressure onto their opponent and nearly got their rewards in the 67th minute when Benny Couto curled a perfect onto the head of Hope at the back post, but the attacker was excellently denied by the goalkeeper.

From the resulting corner, the boys in blue managed to pull a goal back as Hope scored his first goal in a Latics shirt. A corner from the left found the 27-year-old as he peeled off his marker to head powerfully past Rushworth and into the bottom corner.

However, Osadebe secured the victory for Walsall in the 85th minute after a mix-up in the defence allowed him to race one-on-one with the ‘keeper and he kept composed to slot into the far corner as the Saddlers pick up their first win at Boundary Park since October 2019.

Oldham Athletic XI – Leutwiler (GK), Stobbs (Vaughan 62’), McGahey, Sheehan © (Hope 10’), Clarke, Couto, Bowden, Whelan, Keillor-Dunn, Bahamboula, Dearnley (Bettache 46’).

Unused Subs: Rogers (GK), Da Silva, Edwards, Turner.

Goals: Hope 68’

Walsall XI – Rushworth (GK), White, Ward, Labadie © (Perry 88’), Monthe, Wilkinson (Phillips 68’), Osadebe, Miller, Earing, Menayese, Shade (Kiernan 63’).

Unused Subs: Rose (GK), Taylor, Leak, Perry, Khan.

Goals: Earing 33’, Miller 43’, Osadebe 85’

Attendance: 3,762 (329 away)

Referee – Ross Joyce