OLDHAM ATHLETIC 0, COLCHESTER UNITED 1
Not even a first league win of the season the previous week at Cambridge United could appease disgruntled Oldham Athletic fans.
A group, admittedly small in numbers, staged a protest outside the main entrance before kick off against controversial owner Abdallah Lemsagam.
It was no doubt sparked by the demise of Bury earlier in the week and an article in a national newspaper speculating Latics could be the next to go.
And the worries of fans deepened following a home defeat by Colchester United that left them third bottom of Sky Bet League Two.
These are clearly difficult times for Latics who have picked up only four points from their first six league matches as it was been one never-ending downward spiral since Mr Lemsagam took charge at Boundary Park.
What was especially worrying in the way fans are voting with their feet and staying away. Take away the visitors and there were less than 3,000 fans at a home Saturday game.
The last time there was a home league gate below 3,000 on a Saturday was back in 1982.
A goal from Frank Nouble just before half time settled this game as Latics were again toothless – they have found the net three times in six league games to reinforce the point.
Head coach Laurent Banide made two changes from the side that won at Cambridge as Mohamed Sylla and Scott Wilson replaced Gevaro Nepomucemo, who was injured, and Urko Vera who dropped to the bench.
Yet Latics began brightly and almost took a seventh minute lead when Chris Eagles set up Mohammed Maouche whose strike hit the post.
Shortly after, Maouche had another decent effort but his shot was blocked by team-mate Wilson and the danger was cleared
Latics should have taken the lead in the 24th minute after a clever ball from Maouche allowed Dylan Fage to get behind the defence and he put a low cross but Wilson couldn’t make contact yards away from the goal.
Moments later, Maouche slotted Wilson through on goal but goalkeeper Dean Gerken rushed out and bravely denied the striker.
John McGreal’s side nearly broke the deadlock as they countered and Nouble released Courtney Senior but goalkeeper Gary Woods rushed out and tackled the winger. The loose ball fell to Norris and he lobbed the ball over the keeper but landed on the roof of the goal.
Colchester made the breakthrough just before half-time as Norris played a ball over the top of the Latics’ defence to Nouble and he raced in on goal and placed his shot iow past Woods.
Early in the second half, the Us nearly doubled their lead but Ben Stevenson’s shot deflected just wide.
Banide’s side came close to equalising as Tom Hamer’s long throw found Christopher Missilou but his header went just over.
Fage drove at the Colchester defence before unleashing a powerful strike on goal but his attempt was saved by Gerken.
The visitors should have extended their lead as Senior ran at Latics’ defence before putting Theo Robinson in on goal and his shot hit the bar before Norris’ follow-up was saved by Woods.
Late on Chris Eagles put in a great cross and Maouche got onto the end of it but could only head wide as the last chance of a leveller disappeared.
Oldham Athletic (4-1-4-1): Woods: Hamer, Wheater, Iacovitti, Smith-Brown (Branger-Engone 56); Sylla; Fage, Missilou (Vera 74), Maouche, Eagles; Wilson (Azankpo 62). Subs (not used: Zabret, Mills, Sefil, Stott.
Goal: Nouble (45) for Colchester.
Attendance: 3,091 (145 visitors).