OLDHAM ATHLETIC 0, LEYTON ORIENT 1
Oldham Athletic failed to replicate their Carabao Cup win against Carlisle United as they were beaten at home by Leyton Orient in the opening game of their Sky Bet League Two campaign.
It was a disappointing day for Latics whose hopes of picking up a point were dashed by Danny Johnson’s 89th minute goal for the O’s.
And in truth it was a poor performance had more possession and goal attempts as they edged a tight contest at an empty Boundary Park.
After the Carlisle victory, it was no surprise head coach Harry Kewell began with the same starting line-up.
Ross Embleton’s side started the game positively after Lee Angol dispossessed Ben Garrity inside the Latics half and drove goalwards but he blazed over.
The O’s continued to push forward and Craig Clay dragged a low shot just wide of the upright.
They came close to taking the lead with a screamer just before the break when central defender Dan Happe picked up the ball in his own-half and confidently dribbled forward and from 30-yards unleashed a dipping long-range drive which was inches over the crossbar.
Minutes into the second half, Angol found space for himself on the edge of the area and fizzed a low strike on goal, but Ian Lawlor pulled off a fine save.
Kewell’s side created a fantastic chance in the 61st minute as Davis Keillor-Dunn played a lovely weighted through ball to Conor McAleny whose angled shot was kept out by the legs of goalkeeper Lawrence Vigouroux.
Latics went in search of the winner and came close when Keillor-Dunn set up substitute Zak Dearnley and the striker cut the ball back to Danny Rowe who shot straight at Vigouroux,
In the 89th minute, the visitors made the all-important breakthrough as Johnson made it three goals in three games.
The striker raced onto a looping cross before slotting a low shot under Lawlor seal the O’s first win at Boundary Park since August 2014.
Oldham Athletic: Lawlor, Hamer, Jombati, Piergianni, Borthwick-Jackson, Garrity, Whelan, Fage (Rowe 45), Keillor-Dunn, McAleny, Grant (Dearnley 72). Subs (not used): Woods, Rowe, Barnett, Dearnley, Badan, Da Silva, Hough.
The goal: Johnson (89) for Leyton Orient.