Walsall beat Oldham Athletic 3-0 in League Two on Tuesday, with new goalkeeper Jed Ward providing an assist and making three key stops. The result left Walsall as the only unbeaten team remaining in the EFL after 11 games.
Ward's assist and key moments
Ward joined Walsall from Bristol Rovers for an undisclosed fee in the summer and has kept eight clean sheets in 13 games in all competitions since arriving. Against Oldham Athletic, he played a 50-yard low through-ball for Tai Sodje to score Walsall's opener.
Walsall top-scorer Aaron Pressley said: "The pass from Jed is different level - I was shouting at him to play Tai in, but I didn't think he'd do it in that way."
Saddlers boss Lee Grant told BBC Radio WM that what Ward is bringing at the moment is at a very, very high level.
Grant told BBC Radio WM: "There's a big save at 0-0, a big save at 1-0. There's an incredible assist, then there's distribution in the second half which is just so well thought-out and executed. His level of performance has been so high."
League Two numbers and previous experience
Ward leads League Two in percentage of shots saved and has made 43 stops from 50 efforts on target faced. Only Swindon's Connor Ripley, with 58, has made more saves than Ward in League Two, and only Exeter goalkeeper Jack Bycroft, with seven, has kept more League Two clean sheets than Ward's six.
Ward spent much of the past two seasons on loan at National League clubs Yeovil and Forest Green. He also made 18 League One appearances for Bristol Rovers in 2024-25.
Walsall's unbeaten start
Walsall have four wins and seven draws and sit fourth. Against Oldham Athletic, Pressley scored two goals, including one from the penalty spot, and Walsall played the final half hour with 10 men after Elicha Ahui's red card.
Grant told BBC Radio WM: "We got to see both sides of the group - we got to see a team that was really going after the game in the first half, dominated and controlled large parts."
Grant told BBC Radio WM: "Then we got to see the other side of the group which is becoming a clear trend in terms of the character, the fight and the determination and I think in some ways that feels sweeter."
Squad depth and the next home game
Grant has never fielded an unchanged side despite Walsall's results. Grant told BBC Radio WM: "I've just trusted my whole group."
Grant told BBC Radio WM: "So, for the long run, it's good to have this sort of depth and be able to utilise that."
Pressley has scored eight goals so far, including seven in the league. He joined in the summer of 2025 and was part of last season's slide. Pressley said: "We made four changes on Tuesday and that's the strength of the squad. The players coming on have been outstanding and the way we can change the team from game to game is such a strength."
Walsall host leaders Salford on Monday in their next home game. Pressley said: "Obviously it's quite a big game next Monday, but we just need to focus on what we can control in a way on the training pitch and prepare properly."
Pressley said: "That should put us in a good place for next week."