OLDHAM ATHLETIC 0, BURTON ALBION 1
Nasser El-Khayati inflicted more pain and misery on Oldham Athletic as they suffered a fourth home league defeat to drop ever closer to the relegation places in Sky Bet League One.
Burton Albion triumphed at SportsDirect.com Park as Latics have won only twice in their last 16 league and cup games.
What is more they have won only once at home since the end of March as a long, hard winter lies ahead.
And such were Latics’ injury woes they had to include second-year trainee Alex Read on the bench along with Theo Vassell, a young centre back signed following his release by Stoke City.
Manager David Dunn made three changes from the goalless draw at Rochdale the previous Saturday as Daniel Lafferty, Michael Jones and Michael Higdon were ruled out through injury.
Joseph Mills returned at left back after injury, Mark Yeates was recalled to midfield and Dominic Poleon was back in the side up front.
But there is no stopping Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink’s newly-promoted Brewers as they chase back-to-back promotions.
Carl Winchester and Danny Philliskirk had early chances for Latics who made a bright start.
Then completely against the run of play, the Brewers took a 17th minute lead through El-Khayati as the winger squeezed a shot past keeper David Cornell.
And they might have made it 2-0 when Timmy Thiele shot narrowly wide midway through the opening period.
Latics regained their composure as Yeates provided a cross for Philliskirk whose effort was turned round the post by keeper Jon McLaughlin.
They almost equalised one minute before the break when Jay Fulton’s header from Cameron Dummigan’s cross was deflected on to the bar by the fingertips of McLaughlin.
Latics started the second half well as Poleon headed wide while Liam Kelly’s 30-yard drive tested McLaughlin as they sought an equaliser.
McLaughlin was providing a formidable barrier as he kept out efforts from Poleon and Mills as they endured another frustrating afternoon on home soil.