Walsall restored a little pride with their 1-1 draw against high-riding Oldham at the Banks's Stadium but in truth it was an opportunity lost as it presented the team with the first of two home games this week to obtain maximum points to try to climb off the bottom and strike towards safety. Many floating fans have gone now with just 3,247 bothering to turn out for this game. That figure included 331 from Lancashire. So much for discounted ticket scheme that was available. It was the second lowest league gate of the season.
No blame is attached to recently appointed manager Dean Smith though. He is simply mopping up the mess created under Chris Hutchings reign. The players are performing with a lot more self-belief under Deano' and Will Grigg in particular is enjoying a new lease of life under the new manager.
Grigg carved a few chances for himself especially in the first half. Alex Nicholls went close too. Against the run of play however Oldham took the lead in the 38th minute. The defence failed to deal with a corner and there was Pilipe Moraise to take advantage and stab home.
The visitors looked a lot more positive after the break and teh longer the game went on the less likely it looked like Walsall would get anything out of thegame. Then on 77 minutes Darryl Westlake scored his first ever Walsall goal when he hammered home an angled shot from the edge of the penalty box. So The Saddlers got a point out of teh game but really its wins not draws which are needed now.
