BRADFORD CITY 1, OLDHAM ATHLETIC 1
If it ain’t broke, why fit it? That was the maxim for Oldham Athletic interim manager Richie Wellens.
Wellens, fielding the same starting line up for the third successive match, extended his unbeaten run to five games as Latics drew at third-placed Bradford City.
Though Wellens dropped his first points, it was still a great result at one of the favourites for promotion.
And the spirit was underlined as Latics came from behind after trailing to a spectacular third-minute goal from Paul Taylor with Eoin Doyle scoring the equaliser midway through the opening period.
Wellens went same again as that meant Queensy Menig, the scored a last-minute winner against Blackburn three days earlier, had to settle for a place on the bench.
Latics got off to the worst possible start as they fell behind after three minutes through a wonder strike from Taylor who rifled home a short free kick into the top corner from 30 yards.
Latics reacted well as Jack Byrne and Doyle started to see a lot more of the ball and the two almost combined to draw Latics level when the latter’s volley was saved by keeper Colin Doyle.
From the same attack, the ball sat up nicely for Gevaro Nepomuceno, but Doyle again managed to make the save.
Midway through the half, Latics were level, and it was Dummigan and Doyle who combined once again, but it was keeper Johny Placide who started the attack.
The goalkeeper lived dangerously as he did a Cryuff turn in his own penalty box before firing a long pass to Dummigan on the right.
The full back played a perfectly-weighted pass through to Doyle who made no mistake from 12 yards as he slid the ball past the goalkeeper to equalise.
Captain Peter Clarke had to throw his head in front of a powerful shot from Taylor, while Romain Vincelot headed over at the front post.
Two shouts for a penalty followed as Dummigan raced into the penalty area and was held but the referee waved away the protests as he did when Nepomuceno’s cross looked to strike a hand but again, but again the answer was no.
Latics started the second half brightly as Craig Davies headed over and then saw another effort saved by Doyle.
They almost took the lead on the hour as Byrne’s corner found the unmarked Davies at the front post, but Doyle saved his effort.
Wellens brought on Menig in place of Nepomuceno soon after as Latics switched systems from 4-1-3-2 to 4-5-1.
Menig had a chance to put Latics ahead before the game erupted into a mass brawl near the end.
With minutes remaining, Bradford almost took the lead after Nathaniel Knight-Percival found space at the back post but headed over, but in four minutes of additional time, Davies’ deflected shot hit the crossbar.
It was a point on the round to extend the club’s unbeaten run to five games.
Oldham Athletic (4-1-3-2): Placide; Dummigan, Clarke, Bryan, Hunt: Fane; Gardner (Omrani 78), Byrne (Flynn 90+1), Nepomuceno (Menig 63); Davies, Doyle. Subs (not used): Ruddy, Wilson, Gerrard, Banks.
Goals: Taylor (3) for Bradford. Doyle (24) for Oldham.
Attendance: 19,840 (986 visitors)