OLDHAM ATHLETIC 0, BARROW 1
Harry Kewell described it as Oldham Athletic’s worst performance in his time as head coach as they were beaten at home by second-bottom Barrow.
Scott Quigley’s 89th minute winner condemned Latics to a 10th home defeat of the season in Sky Bet League Two.
And with only two league wins from eight attempts in 2021, Latics’ slim hopes of making the promotion play-offs have all but disappeared.
Latics’ dreadful home form – 13 points from a possible 45 – is the reason they are languishing in 17th place and only nine points clear of the relegation places and 11 adrift of the top seven.
Having won 4-3 at Holker Street following an enthralling game, Latics had been looking to complete a league double only to fail miserably to reproduce the spirited display when their 10 men drew 2-2 at high-flying Tranmere Rovers three days earlier.
Kewell had one enforced change from Saturday with Kyle Jameson, facing his former side, replacing the suspended Sido Jombati.
The first half didn’t present any clear-cut chances of note with the visitors edging early exchanges.
Former player Neal Eardley nearly put Rob Kelly’s side ahead in the seventh minute as his dipping cross from the right caught out Ian Lawlor, but the goalkeeper managed to claw the ball away.
Latics’ best opportunity of the opening period came when the in-form Davis Keillor-Dunn picked out Conor McAleny on the edge of the area but Joel Dixon saved the shot.
Barrow’s Luke James found himself free inside the penalty area and smashed an effort towards the target, but Harry Clarke bravely put his body in the way to prevent a goal.
McAleny continued to cause trouble for the Bluebirds’ backline and, just before half-time, cut inside on the left-wing and blasted his strike just past the far post.
The visitors thought they had broken the deadlock in the 66th minute as Quigley turned Clarke before seeing his shot strike the underside of the bar, bounce on the line before hitting the crossbar again and then being cleared. Barrow’s players and staff were adamant it was a goal, but referee Michael Salisbury waved away the protests.
Top scorer McAleny continued to be a threat testing Dixon with a swerving shot from 25 yards which was parried.
Former Latics’ favourite Ollie Banks fired a free-kick low towards the bottom corner, but Lawlor pushed it to safety.
The main positive was youth team midfielder Harry Vaughan who made his professional debut at just 16-years of age and showed plenty of promise.
In the 89th minute, Barrow conjured a winner as Jamie Devitt played Quigley one-on-one with Lawlor and he kept his composure to slot through the goalkeeper’s legs.
Oldham Athletic: Lawlor, Clarke, Keillor-Dunn, Jameson, Tasdemir (Whelan 60), McAleny, Badan (Diarra 40), Hilssner (Barnes 60, Vaughan 75), Adams, Bahamboula (Blackwood 60), McCalmont. Subs (not used): Bilboe, Piergianni.
Goal: Quigley, 89, for Barrow.