Walsall maintained their unbeaten League Two start with a comfortable victory over Oldham Athletic.

Tai Sodje's opener and Aaron Pressley's brace lifted the Saddlers to fourth, despite playing the last half-hour with 10 men, as Oldham slipped to 21st.

Goalkeeper Jed Ward was Walsall's first-half star, saving well from Kane Drummond and Favour Fawunmi and producing an assist for their 21st-minute opener in between.

After collecting a cross, he drilled a pinpoint low pass for Sodje to outpace Manny Monthe and slot beyond Mathew Hudson in off a post.

Walsall added a second five minutes later, Pressley lifting a calm finish over Hudson from Declan Skura's through-ball.

Drummond twice went close to pulling one back either side of half-time, glancing a header wide and forcing a save from Ward's legs with a fierce shot.

But Walsall made it 3-0 after 58 minutes, Pressley slotting a penalty down the middle after Mike Fondop handled.

They were reduced to 10 men as last man Elicha Ahui brought down Fawunmi, but Oldham, who suffered a seventh away defeat in eight, had no way back.

Match report supplied by the Press Association

Figure caption,

Grant: 'We got to see both sides of the group'

Figure caption,

Mellon: 'A lack of taking responsibility'

Related topics