Walsall Beat Oldham 3-0 Despite Second-Half Red Card

Walsall strengthened their position among the League Two promotion contenders with a 3-0 victory over Oldham Athletic at the Bescot Stadium on Tuesday, October 20, 2026. Tai Sodje scored the opener before Aaron Pressley added two goals, helping the hosts reach fourth place with 19 points despite finishing the match with 10 players. According to BBC match coverage, Oldham remained 21st with 11 points after suffering another away defeat.

The result extended Walsall's unbeaten start to the league campaign, while Oldham's supporters were left frustrated by a fifth loss in seven League Two matches, according to The Oldham Times. Walsall goalkeeper Jed Ward played a decisive role in the opening goal. After collecting a cross, he sent a precise, low pass forward that allowed Sodje to outrun Manny Monthé and finish past Mathew Hudson in the 21st minute.

Pressley doubled the advantage five minutes later, lifting the ball over Hudson after receiving Declan Skura's through-ball. The quick double gave Walsall a substantial lead before the visitors could establish a foothold in the contest.

Ward also kept Oldham at bay during the first half, making important saves against Kane Drummond and Favour Fawunmi. Drummond threatened again around the interval, first directing a header wide before forcing Ward to save with his legs. Walsall extended their lead in the 58th minute after Mike Fondop handled the ball inside the penalty area. Pressley converted the resulting penalty by sending his shot down the middle, completing his brace and putting the hosts three goals ahead.

The match became more difficult for Walsall three minutes later when defender Elicha Ahui received a red card for bringing down Fawunmi as the last defender. The dismissal left the home side with 10 men for the closing stages, but Oldham could not take advantage of their numerical superiority. BBC match statistics recorded further Walsall attacking attempts during the closing minutes, including efforts from Andy Dallas and Reece Smith that were saved or blocked. Oldham were unable to find a goal before the final whistle, leaving the score at 3-0.

The defeat also marked Oldham's seventh loss in eight away matches, according to BBC coverage. Walsall's victory kept them in fourth place, within the League Two promotion playoff positions, while Oldham remained close to the bottom of the table.