PORT VALE 1, OLDHAM ATHLETIC 4
Oldham Athletic overcame adversity to record a comprehensive Sky Bet League Two victory at Port Vale.
It came three days after the 6-0 Boxing Day defeat at Carlisle United, a result that cost manager Frankie Bunn his job.
Latics had academy chief Pete Wild in charge as he masterminded a success in his first game in temporary charge thanks to goals from Callum Lang, Mohamed Maouche, Gevaro Nepomuceno and Chris O’Grady.
And Wild praised his senior players for stepping up to the plate.
He said: “We constantly have adversity at the moment, but I’m just happy we are back to winning ways. I love this club so hopefully we can move forward now.
“We have strong characters here. I asked the senior players to help me out and show a reaction, and it felt like every player showed the reaction we wanted.”
Wild restored youngster Tom Hamer into defence and Jordan Lyden in midfield as Andy Taylor and injured top scorer Sam Surridge lost out.
The hosts created the first chance of the game as a mistake from Peter Clarke allowed Ben Whitfield to nip in and head towards goal, but Daniel Iversen managed to smother the chance.
It was a nervy start to the game from Latics, but Lang had a great opportunity to score after being played through Tom Hamer.
Lang saw his shot saved from a tight angle, but he had Maouche open in the middle who may be have been the better option.
Luke Hannant chipped an effort into Iversen’s hands before Whitfield forced the Dane into a superb diving save as the Valiants’ man looked to pick out the top corner.
Latics took the lead in the 32nd minute as Maouche nicked the ball off Nathan Smith, O’Grady took over and played Lang through who calmly finished past keeper Scott Brown.
While a free kick was waiting to be taken, Tom Pope and George Edmundson tangled with Pope seemingly kicking out at the Latics’ man.
The referee gave the two a talking to and from the resulting free kick the ball was headed down to Whitfield who bundled the ball into the net.
As the half came to an end, Christopher Missilou found O’Grady who curled an effort towards the top corner and Brown clawed the shot away.
Latics got themselves back ahead eight minutes after the restart as a Hamer long throw made its way through to Maouche who provided a cheeky back heel which deflected past Brown.
O’Grady and Maouche both had efforts saved by Brown as Latics were controlling the game.
As Vale pushed for an equaliser, Nepomuceno sealed victory in the 86th minute as substitute Johan Branger-Engone played the wide man in behind, before curling a beautiful shot past Brown.
Mitchell Clark hit the post for the hosts before Whitfield skied a decent chance over the bar to potentially set up a nervy finish.
O’Grady hit a fourth in stoppage time after Branger-Engone knocked a ball in behind the striker who took his time before slotting it home.
Attendance 4435 (778 Away)
Oldham Athletic (4-4-2): Iversen; Hamer, Clarke, Edmundson, Hunt; Lang (Branger-Engone 76), Lyden, Missilou, Nepomuceno; Maouche, O’Grady. Subs (not used): De La Paz, Taylor, Graham, Norman, Williams, Robinson.
Attendance 4,435 (778 visitors).