Put the word around - Saddlers rock
Nov 25 2009 by Brian Halford, Birmingham Mail
WHISPER it quietly – Walsall, beaten just twice in ten games after this emphatic victory, are stalking the League One play-offs zone.
On second thoughts, don’t whisper it quietly. Shout it loud.
The Saddlers recorded their third successive home win and stretched their unbeaten run to five matches but just 3,191 people (including 231 from Oldham) had turned up to watch.
Word has evidently not got round that Walsall are motoring.
On this evidence, Chris Hutchings’ side is worth a look. Before last night, away from home Oldham had conceded six goals in 12 games but Walsall put two past them in 25 first-half minutes to kill the game.
Troy Deeney and Steve Jones struck blows to which the Latics added a self-inflicted one when left-back Lee Hills mugged Jones two minutes before the break and was sent off.
Walsall then quietly closed the game out as Deeney added a stylish third ten minutes from time. Sound job done and, cold, wet night though it was, it merited a few more than 3,000 witnesses.
With Dwayne Mattis ruled out by an Achilles injury, Josh O’Keefe made his full debut and immediately made an impression – on Danny Whitaker’s ankle.
A second-minute yellow card under his belt, the 20-year-old settled into a decent debut in horrible conditions.
In heavy rain and ferocious wind Oldham played neat football early on but Walsall took the lead from their first chance.
The excellent Darren Byfield, shielded by three defenders, delivered a lovely cross to the far post where Deeney leaped adroitly to hook the ball home.
Deeney was then denied by Darryl Flahavan before Hills’ costly lunge. He clattered Jones several seconds after the ball had gone and had to go.
Ninety seconds later Walsall exacted further punishment when Deeney’s slick pass sent in Jones to collected his sixth goal in seven games.
Oldham needed a miracle but never came close to one. Ten minutes from time Deeney rounded off his excellent night with superb control and finish of Mark Bradley’s pass.
It was the classy final act of an impressive performance.
WALSALL (4-4-2): Ince 7; Weston 7, Hughes 8, Smith 7, Sansara 8; Jones 7 (Till 86), O’Keefe 7, Bradley 8, Richards 7; Byfield 8 (Parkin 82), DEENEY 9 (Nicholls 86). Not used: Gilmartin, McDonald, Adkins, Westlake.
OLDHAM (4-4-2): Flahavan; Holdsworth, Hazell (Lomax 47), Gregan, Hills; Colbeck, Brooke, Whitaker, Furman; Blackman (Jacobson 45), Smalley (Parker 66). Not used: Brill, Brooke, Stephens, Black, Lee.
Referee: K Woolmer (Northamptonshire).
