PORTSMOUTH 1, OLDHAM ATHLETIC 2
Eoin Doyle’s red-hot scoring streak continued as he scored both goals for Oldham Athletic in a fabulous win at Portsmouth.
Yet the on-loan striker was not down to play in a move by caretaker manager Richie Wellens to hoodwink the opposition.
Wellens told the pre-match press conference Doyle had picked up a muscle injury against Peterborough and was ruled out of the game at Fratton Park.
It was a porky aimed at disrupting Pompey’s preparations and a ploy that worked as he scored twice to make it six goals in his loan spell as Wellens maintained his 100-per-cent record.
Wellens made one enforced change to Tuesday’s starting line up as Cameron Dummigan replaced the suspended Brian Wilson.
Latics started the game brightly when Doyle struck the upright after three minutes from 25 yards.
However, after six minutes goalkeeper Johny Placide made a superb save to tip over Brett Pitman’s long-range effort. The striker also saw another effort fly wide as Latics lived dangerously.
Latics weathered the storm to regain control as Jack Byrne and Rob Hunt had chances before taking the lead after 16 minutes when Craig Davies cross was parried by keeper Luke McGee, but Doyle slotted home the loose ball.
Doyle and Gevaro Nepomuceno twice had chances to extend the lead, but all the efforts were off target.
Byrne curled a shot towards the top corner but McGee managed to tip his goal-bound effort over the crossbar.
From the resulting corner, Peter Clarke almost converted at the back post but it went the wrong side of the post.
Latics had a lucky escape when Jamal Lowe get behind their defence, but saw his effort strike the upright.
Latics continued to impress and efforts from Doyle, Davies and Byrne all had to be defended by Pompey.
In the final minute of the first half, Byrne had another chance at the end of what had been a great half for the visitors.
Latics started the second half with the same purpose and were rewarded after two minutes when Doyle grabbed his second goal.
The striker seized on a loose pass, advanced one on one and cooly chipped the goalkeeper to put Latics in a commanding position.
Latics almost made it three just before the hour mark when Dan Gardner found Doyle racing through the centre, but his touch just took the ball away from him.
Gardner was having a positive influence on the game and he steered a shot just wide just after the hour mark as Latics continued to go forward and create chances.
Pitman curled a free kick over the bar as the visitors struggled to create a clear goalscoring chance due as Latics defended resolutely.
Pompey had made all three changes when Pitman pulled up with what looked a hamstring injury but he struggled through to the end of the game.
Gardner was forced off after 78 minutes and he was replaced by Ollie Banks as Latics looked to be seeing the game out comfortably.
However, in the final minute of the game, Portsmouth managed to pull a goal back as the injured Pitman steered the ball into the far corner to make it a nervy ending.
That was further enhanced by eight minutes of additional time.
Tempers started to flair in the final minutes of the game but Latics defended professionally and recorded all three points.
Oldham Athletic (4-1-3-2): Placide; Dummigan, Clarke, Bryan, Hunt; Fane; Nepomuceno (Omrani 65), Byrne (Menig 88), Fane, Gardner (Banks 78); Davies, Doyle. Subs (not used): Ruddy, Gerrard, Edmundson, Obadeyi.
Goals: Pitman (90) for Portsmouth. Doyle (16, 47)
Attendance: 17,848 (466 visitors).