THE SADDLERS have slipped to a 3-0 home defeat at the hands of Oldham Athletic.

Walsall had to soak up a lot of early pressure from the visitors and on ten minutes Craig Davies' pace took him past the defence but he snatched at his effort which made it easy for Clayton Ince to save.

The Saddlers' first chance came on the quarter-hour mark whena nice touch from the returning Tommy Mooney set up Martin Butler for a diving header which he put wide.

The visitors had two strikes in quick succession which were blocked, whilst at the other end, some neat play down the left started with Scott Dann who fed Darren Wrack and he in turn exchanged passes with Mooney to force a corner which came to nothing.

The Latics took the lead on 32 minutes when former Saddler, Michael Ricketts strode through the back-line before firing confidently beyond Ince.

A powerful strike on the turn by Edrissa Sonko, who was making his first start for the club, was well kept out by the veteran Mark Crossley in the Oldham goal as Richard Money's men looked to hit back straight away.

There were yellow cards for both Daniel Fox and Mooney for dissent before a foul just outside the area gave The Saddlers a free-kick in a dangerous position which was taken by Sonner but was curled harmlessly into the arms of Crossley.

The visitors had a free-kick in a similarly dangerous position shortly afterwards following Roper's trip on Davies. Ricketts stepped up and hit a curling effort which Ince did well to push around the post.

At the end of the first half, Sonko's weaving run ended with him hitting an effort that dipped just over.

There was a change at half-time when Ishmel Demontagnac replaced Sonner.

The Saddlers started the second period on the front-foot as Sonko's ball in from the right looked for Mooney but the visitors were able to scramble clear.

The resulting corner was met by the head of Roper as Mooney's deft touch was saved by Crossely.

There was a further change as Troy Deeney replaced Anthony Gerrard in the heart of midfield.

An inviting ball in by Demontagnac just evaded Sonko's purposeful run into the danger zone. It was to be Sonko's last involvement in the action as Paul Hall came on to replace him.

With 63 minutes on the clock, a ball into the area from the right saw the visitors awarded a penalty as the referee spotted a push. The experienced Andy Liddell stepped up to fire home and double the lead.

Demontagnac's deep cross was pulled inviting back across goal by Deeney but no-one was on hand to capitalise.

With time running out, Fox hit a free-kick with real venom that flew narrowly wide of the target with Crossley left standing.

There was a yellow card for Butler following a robust challenge as Chris Taylor's burst forward for Oldham ended with the tricky wide-man slamming the ball into the side-netting.

At the other end, Butler's low ball in from the left saw Crossley bravely gather as Mooney lurked.

Then Mooney's intelligent pass set up Wrack who blazed over in the final minute before The Latics increased their lead in injury time when Ince blocked and Craig Davies was alert to seize the loose ball and slot home.

PHOTOS: David Linney Photography