Athletic 3, Walsall 2: Home rule at last for Latics

Lee Hughes nets the Latics winner against Walsall.

3 More Image(s) In Gallery

Scroll down for Video

THERE you go, it ain’t so bad being a Latics fan is it?

After two admittedly poor home defeats which sparked off all manner of debate, Athletic resumed normal Boundary Park service with last night’s entertaining victory over Walsall.

Their third consecutive league win, powered by a double from Lee Hughes — whose tally is now just one short of double figures — meant a move back into the play-off places at the expense of big-spending Leeds.

Athletic lived on their nerves before Hughes finished off Walsall, but as Gordon Ramsay might say (among other things, such as ‘we’re staying united as a bleeping family and my bleeping marriage has never been bleeping stronger’), it was a case of three goals, three points. Done.

Though Walsall played their part in a game of ups and downs, Athletic had a potent double act in left-sided duo Chris Taylor and Danny Jones.

Pace, movement, dangerous delivery, positive attitude . . . manager John Sheridan reckons Taylor and Jones are the best wide pairing in League One and, on this form, it’s hard to disagree.

Walsall were tormented, although neither defence covered itself in glory during an action-packed opening period in which four goals were shared.

Walsall’s first, scored by ex-Latics striker Michael Ricketts, was a particularly soft one to concede as Athletic failed to deal with a setpiece fired right across the face of goal.

It’s fair to say Ricketts is not remembered with affection at Boundary Park, but you’ve got to hand it to the guy — he has made two returns, found the net twice and been excellent on both occasions.

The respective back fours tightened up after half-time, which must have been a relief for Sheridan and his opposite number, Jimmy Mullen, but as the game progressed it was Athletic who seized command.

For a time they lacked creativity as the ball wasn’t being held up front and there was no real forward thrust from central midfield.

Yet a double substitution worked the oracle, with Danny Whitaker providing something different and Chris O’Grady coming back into the fold to have perhaps his biggest impact on any match for Athletic.

O’Grady, who has just spent a month on loan at Bury, posed new, more physical problems — and he was instrumental in the late winning goal.

His back-heel to Jones led to the full-back sending in a fantastic cross under pressure. And with that kind of service, the predatory Hughes always had a great chance of sealing victory.

Athletic started and finished well, warming up the crowd in the eighth minute as Taylor showed awareness to pick out Jones before Andy Liddell’s shot was saved.

Taylor then fired over and was also involved in the opening goal, which arrived in the 16th minute of a one-sided early spell.

Centre-back Sean Gregan began the move with an angled pass towards Hughes, who fed Taylor near the touchline.

Mark Allott took over with his drive from outside the box, and Walsall ’keeper Rene Gilmartin was left totally stranded as the ball ricocheted home off Manny Smith.

Walsall didn’t muster a corner or goal attempt until midway through the half — yet the first of each saw Athletic pegged back on to level terms.

Chris Palmer’s far-post kick eluded ’keeper Mark Crossley and his entire defensive pack, allowing Ricketts to head in from no more than three yards.

So, one attempt, one goal, but it soon became two and two after a Ricketts turn and through-ball sent Alex Nicholls running into space.

Gaps opened up as he cut from left to right, and Nicholls slotted low past Crossley to leave the home side reeling from a shock double blow.

To the frustration of their fans Athletic remained groggy for 10 minutes, but a chance was made for Kevin Maher before Hughes struck the first of his stylish brace.

And it was another move down the left which found Walsall vulnerable as Jones teed up Hughes for a first-time volley from 10 yards.

Openings were traded after the break as Darren Byfield headed wide and Troy Deeney missed the target following a pass from Ricketts, who was again allowed to turn.

Deeney also had a presentable chance after Crossley fumbled 12 yards out, but the ’keeper was quick to redeem his mistake.

Athletic lost their spark until the 70th minute when Taylor went on a one-man crusade against the visitors, beating four of them with his pace and skill and forcing Gilmartin into a full-length save.

Ricketts headed over for Walsall, but the Taylor-Jones combination was back in full swing as the former played in the latter for a shot just wide.

Athletic were now pushing harder then their opponents for a killer third strike, and those efforts were spectacularly rewarded less than two minutes from time.

After Jones somehow dug out a pinpoint cross, Hughes steered in from close range — and that was Athletic’s 22nd goal in only nine league games this season at Boundary Park.