OLDHAM ATHLETIC 2, DONCASTER ROVERS 0
Oldham Athletic’s home victory against Doncaster Rovers sealed their place in the knockout phase of the EFL Trophy.
Latics, who had already beaten Wolves U21s, secured their passage with one game left through goals in the last quarter of the game through Danny Rowe and Zak Dearnley.
While Latics remain in search of an elusive first league win of the campaign, they have a 100 per cent record in the EFL Trophy.
Head coach Harry Kewell made five changes to his starting line-up from Saturday’s draw at Colchester.
Kewell handed Dylan Bahamboula his full debut after an impressive display as a substitute against Colchester United. Ian Lawlor, on loan from Doncaster Rovers, was permitted to face his parent club.
Rovers ought to have taken an early lead but left back Cameron John blazed over.
Darren Moore’s side continued to apply pressure on Latics and veteran James Coppinger nearly put his side ahead direct from a corner, but Lawlor palmed out his dead ball.
Latics had a great chance when Jordan Barnett set up Bobby Grant who dragged his shot wide.
Lawlor produced a fine block to deny Madger Gomes who was released by Ben Whiteman and then made a super save to keep out a header from Arsenal loanee Tyreece John-Jules.
Latics started the second half positively and came close to taking the lead through substitute Dearnley whose header looped wide.
Following that, Rowe struck a free-kick from 25-yards over the defensive wall and it looked destined for the bottom corner, but Louis Jones made a great stop.
Rovers would have snatched the lead through John only for Sido Jombati to make a goalline clearance.
Latics made the breakthrough in the 67th minute when Rowe found the net through a free kick from 25 yards which squirmed under keeper Jones.
And they sealed the victory with minutes left as Ben Garrity cut the ball back to Dearnley on the edge of the box and the forward found the top corner.
Oldham Athletic: Lawlor, Jombati, Piergianni, Whelan, Rowe, Keillor-Dunn (Garrity 69), Grant (Blackwood 82), Fage, Barnett, Bahamboula (Dearnley 46), Hamer. Subs (not used): Chapman, McAleny, Hough, Sutton.
Goals: Rowe, 67, Dearnley, 86, for Oldham.