Oldham 2 Walsall 1 - analysis

Walsall will not be the only ones to suffer heartbreak on Valentine's Day. The problem is how long they take to get over it.

Like a spurned lover, the Saddlers left Oldham full of regret and recrimination with harsh words ringing in their ears from the heat of the moment.

February 14 is meant to be the time to fall in love but there are many who are falling out of love with Walsall after another demoralising 2-1 defeat.

The 101 Saddlers fans who traipsed up to the romantic outpost of Boundary Park last night would have left wondering whether it was all worth it.

How costly Alex Nicholls' last-gasp penalty miss will prove might only become evident in May but, short term, it will demoralise.

It was the chance to snatch a point but it was another opportunity blown – like countless others this term. The players plead for patience but, after 29 games and just four wins, they cannot expect anything but anxiety as they sit third bottom.

They fact they have to win seven, and draw four, of their last 17 games just to make the magic 50 points mark – after two league wins since August – is a big cause for concern.

And the next month will define the season, despite any arguments to the contrary, with the next two games setting the tone.

Fellow strugglers Wycombe visit the Banks's Stadium on Saturday before the rearranged game at Scunthorpe on Tuesday.

A minimum of four points is required with two defeats unthinkable. The Saddlers' failings have lent this season an all too familiar air of inconsistency but, if there ever was a time to change, it is now.

They will have a much, much better idea of where they stand in League One come 10pm next Tuesday at Glanford Park.

But there is a real concern over the team's direction now. Boss Dean Smith has got a near impossible job of trying to build a squad with monopoly money but there are few signs to suggest they are improving.

Against Oldham, an ordinary side with a not-too-dissimilar budget, they failed to get off the ground, struggled to impose themselves and were, ultimately, well beaten.

Smith was correct in his assertion Oldham had done little to go 2-0 up in the first-half but the fact they did, and with minimum fuss, was a damning indictment of the Saddlers.

David Grof replaced the hamstrung Jimmy Walker in goal while Ryan Jarvis came in for Jon Macken, also out with a hamstring injury.

Both teams were winless in 2012 – before two goals in the first 31 minutes pushed the Latics into the relative safety of mid-table.

Any Walsall game plan evaporated after 72 seconds when the hosts went ahead. Keanu Marsh-Brown skinned Lee Beevers to find Robbie Simpson and the striker teed up Filipe Morais to bury high past Grof.

The Saddlers responded as Florent Cuvelier struck the inside of the post but it was their only sight of goal during a miserable first-half.

Disjointed, haphazard, raids were launched into the Oldham half but were snuffed out well before they reached the danger zone.

The Latics, only seven points clear of the Saddlers going into play, were ordinary but still too good for their visitors, as their nerve ebbed away.

Shefki Kuqi and Tom Adeyemi were off target before Oldham – who had scored once in four previous games – scored again on 31 minutes.

Tormentor-in-chief Morais wriggled free on the right to cross for Simpson, whose excellent control took him away from the dozing Andy Butler to volley past Grof.

Kuqi should have made it 3-0 after the break when he turned Oliver Lancashire, on for the below-par Manny Smith at the break, but fired wide before the visitors found a lifeline with 16 minutes left.

Cuvelier broke down the right and ignored the unmarked Jamie Paterson to fire under Cisak from 25 yards.

It provided the Saddlers with a platform and one from which they almost claimed a point, with a golden chance in stoppage time.

Will Grigg chased down a long ball and was shoved by Jean Yves M'Voto for a penalty – only for Cisak to push Nicholls' tame effort behind.

There will be no love lost for a cold night in Oldham.

By Nick Mashiter