Latics tough it out

David Dunn . . . the midfield man impressed off the bench.

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Walsall 1, Oldham Athletic 1

Trailing to a beautifully-taken Romaine Sawyers goal at the Bank’s Stadium, it seemed until the 83rd minute that Athletic’s stylish but not particularly penetrative play would bring no reward.

Then up stepped Jake Cassidy. With substitute David Dunn on the field to add swagger and know-how, the debutant chased down a ball on the right, bounced off an opponent and supplied a sublime, whipped cross.

Jonathan Forte did as he does, still, despite the near-move to Barnsley. Striding in off the left wing, the man who missed out in the opening XI to Rhys Turner applied the calmest of volleyed finishes to put the ball under ex-Athletic goalkeeper Neil Etheridge.

Just as last season when he scored 15 times, Forte had netted as his side came from behind to land a point on the first Saturday of the season. The difference this time was the not inconsiderable Dunn factor.

Consider this: George Green could not even get in the match-day squad. A player once transferred for a fee potentially reaching £2million when he joined Everton wasn’t chosen by Kelly because he had so many options, which also failed to include Rhys Murphy.

One report in the national media afterwards hinted Kelly’s time at Athletic will be short, but it must be said that here he did a good job tactically. Set up in a diamond shape, Kelly negated a poor opening with a midfield that gradually gained authority.

Perhaps Athletic were vulnerable to Walsall’s thrusting counter-attacks and certainly, some of the ball movement in the first half was too slow. Carl Winchester didn’t have too much influence and Turner did too much of his work a long way off strike partner Cassidy.

Jonathan Burn, on his Football League debut, was terrific at centre-half. He threw himself in front of Jordan Cook shots both on target and likely to trouble Joel Coleman. Though he couldn’t do much about Walsall’s first, a splendid right-foot shot into the top corner after only eight minutes.

Walsall were getting around Athletic’s narrow midfield too easily, but gradually the visitors exerted control and captain Liam Kelly hit two efforts from long distance, the second of which, a 30-yarder, whizzed only a foot wide.

Buoyed by a call on the field of “quicker”, Athletic upped the tempo and Turner went close after being slipped in by Mike Jones on the stroke of half-time.

Cassidy, who had an early snap-shot which travelled well over, continued to lead the line effectively, and Athletic had Walsall — including last season's 20-goal man Tom Bradshaw — under control in the second half. Joel Coleman was called on to save with his legs and then from a Sam Manton drive.

At the other end, Joseph Mills hit a fierce drive that Etheridge punched away awkwardly.

Up stepped Cassidy, then Forte, aided by Dunn and the graft of Danny Philliskirk, to turn pressure into a point. Athletic were well on top by the end too, hunting down a second.

There have been far worse opening weekends.