Frustration after Athletic fail to see off Saddlers

Athletic manager Richie Wellens struggled to shake off a feeling of frustration after his side were held to a 1-1 home draw by fellow League One relegation battlers Walsall last night (Wednesday).

The hosts enjoyed the better of the game, but despite a particularly dominant second-half performance, they couldn't force home what would have been a deserved winning goal.

Wellens said: "It was a game of two halves.

"The conditions played their part in the first half and then we go and concede to a set-play.

"That wasn't ideal, but at least we got back into it before half-time and then in the second we created lots of chances.

"I don't remember (Oldham goalkeeper)  Johny Placide having a save to make until right at the end.

"We were camped in their box at times, and their goalkeeper has made a couple of worldy saves.

"We do seem to complicate the game a bit too much, though.  

"We need to slow the game down a bit, and it does get a bit frustrating for me when I have to tell some of the players what to do.

"We should have won of course. Maybe we just needed that bit of extra quality in and around their goal.

"Overall I am frustrated, but we have to take the positives and that's another point closer to where we want to be."

Athletic striker Duckens Nazon made a lively start, firing over from 25 yards after being neatly teed up by Eoin Doyle.

The Haiti international then produced an acrobatic overhead kick which dipped inches over the crossbar.

However, it was the Saddlers who went in front in the 33rd minute when West Brom loanee Jack Fitzwater lashed in a rebound after Luke Leahy's header had been palmed onto the crossbar by Athletic 'keeper Johny Placide.

Nazon levelled a minute before the break.

He drifted easily past two men before hammering home past Liam Roberts from the edge of the box.

After the restart Athletic's Jack Byrne curled a free-kick narrowly over the top, while Nazon's 25-yard pile-driver was brilliantly saved by Roberts.

Placide then produced a super save to keep out Jon Guthrie's header late on.