NOTTS COUNTY 0, OLDHAM ATHLETIC 0
Oldham Athletic plugged their leaking defence but to the detriment of their front line as they were held to a goalless draw at Notts County in Sky Bet League Two.
After leaking seven goals in their previous three games, a rare clean sheet was a triumph in terms of their defensive play against Harry Kewell’s County side.
But it came at the expense of the their forward play as they fired a blank as it is now only one win in nine league games which has prompted a worrying slide down the table.
In sating that, Latics were unlucky not to leave Meadow Lane with three points after having 19 goal attempts to the home side’s five with home goalkeeper Ross Fitzsimons the player of the match.
Manager Frank Bunn made two changes from the side that started in Saturday’s league loss at Stevenage as Andy Taylor and Jordan Lyden won recalls at the expense of Tom Hamer and Christopher Missilou.
Ishmael Miller’s blocked shot and Jonathan Benteke’s effort straight at Fitzsimons were the only chances of any note in the opening 10 minutes.
Not long after Miller forced a fine save from Fitzsimons low to his left as Latics looked likeliest to make the breakthrough.
County probably should have taken the lead from their only chance of the half as Robert Milsom hit a long diagonal free kick into the Oldham penalty area, but Jamie Turley blazed over.
Latics probably should have scored themselves as Gevaro Nepomuceno’s corner found an unmarked Taylor at the back post, but his header was cleared off the line.
Latics kept the ball alive and Gevaro Nepomuceno found Peter Clarke in the middle with a fantastic r cross, but Fitzsimons produced a wonderful diving save to deny Latics’ captain..
Miller then forced another save from Fitzsimons as the striker struck from a tight angle, before Taylor fizzed a cross that neither Christian Benteke or Callum Lang could turn in.
Latics started the second half as they ended the first, as Nepomuceno set up Lang who he headed wide.
Lang then latched onto a Dan Gardner pass and he forced another strong save out of Fitzsimons before George Edmundson headed a good chance over from a Gardner corner.
Goalkeeper Daniel Iversen was largely a spectator, but he had to be at his very best after Enzio Boldewijn worked an opening for himself only to be denied by the Danish U21 International.
Home goalkeeper Fitzsimons denied Gardner, tipping over the midfielder’s effort from distance as Latics continued to push on.
Yet at the death as the game entered stoppage time, County almost snatched an improbable victory.
Latics failed to deal with an Elliot Hewitt long throw which resulted in Enzio Boldewijn hitting the post.
It would have been cruel on Latics because on the balance of play they would have won but for the brilliance of Fitzsimons.
Oldham Athletic (4-4-2): Iversen; Hunt, Clarke, Edmundson, Taylor; Lang, Gardner, Lyden, Nepomuceno; Miller (Baxter 80), Benteke (O’Grady 85). Subs (not used): Dummigan, Missilou, Graham, Maouche, McFarlane.
Attendance 4,487 (296 visitors).