Walsall fight back to beat Latics

GOAL . . . Ryan McLaughlin

 WALSALL 2, ATHLETIC 1

A LAST-MINUTE goal from Erhun Oztumer ensured that Athletic remain without a point in Sky Bet League One – despite holding the lead at half-time.

A long throw into the penalty area was not dealt with by the visitors' under-pressure defence and Oztumer stole in to poke home from close range.

Joe Edwards had earlier struck eight minutes after half-time to pulls the Saddlers level.

Edwards fired through a number of bodies after a corner kick was not cleared properly to level up the scores in the 53rd minutes.

Athletic, who made a slow start but ended up having the edge in the first half, took the lead through Ryan McLaughlin on 32 minutes when his teasing cross from the left beat everyone to deceive goalkeeper Mark Gillespie.

Walsall improved markedly after the break and after the equaliser, Oztumer turned one close-range narrowly wide of goal before shaping a left-footed effort against an upright in the 72nd minute, with Amadou Bakayoko failing to hit the target as the rebound was directed to him six yards from goal.

McLaughlin saw a 25-yard effort tipped wide and the very lively Oztumer had an effort somehow scrambled away.

Tope Obadeyi saw his last-gasp header superbly tipped over by Gillespie, but Athletic have now lost their opening three games in league and cup.