Latics 2 – 0 Bristol Rovers: Gritty win for Latics after Drummond banger

After Saturday’s well-below-average first 45 minutes, Latics took just 50 seconds to get into this game. No one claimed Mat Hudson’s clearance on the edge of the Rovers box. Drummond got a foot in, as did Fondop. It still wasn’t under anyone’s control until Drummond smashed it first time from 30 yards, giving Bradley Young in the Rovers net zero chance.

LATICS 2

Drummond 1, Fondop 59

BRISTOL ROVERS 0

6,256 (378)

Latics took control of the game in familiar style – by closing the opposition down, making the game tight. Uncharacteristically, they also showed attacking intent. At one point, centre-half Manny Monthé found himself chasing a ball to the byline. Calum Kavanagh cut it back from the byline but no Latics player had held position by the penalty spot – two were in the six-yard box and he should have squared it. Hudson kicked long rather than rolling it to the full-backs.

Nevertheless, Young barely touched the ball after picking out of the net in the first minute, and Rovers edged their way into the game. Their best chance came on 25 minutes, when Luke Thomas found himself alone in space in the area to meet a bobbling cross but skied it left-footed into the Jimmy Frizzell Stand.

On 27 minutes, Drummond and Rovers midfielder Tom Lockyer, who had been niggling at one another from before Drummond scored after just 50 seconds, were both booked after an off-the-ball incident. Lockyer was lucky to stay on the field after his coathanger levelled Drummond, who was himself booked, presumably for dissent. (Who among us can say we would show no dissent after being elbowed in the face?) Lockyer was subbed off on 68 minutes – recognition from Rovers boss Steve Evans that when you send your men out to play dirty, they might not last the 90.

Mellon switched Drummond to the right wing – an understated intervention that kept his goalscorer out of range of Lockyer and away from any temptation to take revenge. The game calmed down too, and the sides played out a marginally less gritty final 10 minutes of the half.

The second half started in the same gritty, bitty fashion. Kai Payne had the best chance of the opening exchanges. He controlled a shot on the half volley from 30 yards but it was deflected for a corner. Fondop won the ball from Pett’s delivery, but it bounced into Young’s arms before anyone could get a decisive second touch again.

Rovers came close to scoring when Hudson failed to commit to claim a cross from the right, letting it bounce across the area. Fortunately for him, the best Rovers could do was lob it on to the roof of the net from beyond the far post.

Seconds later, Latics went two ahead through Fondop. Jamie Robson charged down the Latics left on the overlap, and his cross was handled. Penalty. Latics had missed their previous two, with Joe Garner and Calum Kavanagh the guilty missers.

Step forward Mike Fondop, who made no mistake, cleverly playing a one-two with Young in the Bristol net before smashing it into the roof of the net from a couple of yards.

That’s three penalties on the bounce that Latics have missed, although to be fair it was an absolutely brilliant save from the luckless Young. Who’d be a keeper?

Hudson pulled off two magnificent saves as the outfield players took a breather with their 2-0 advantage, and made a couple of important claims from crosses. At that point, you felt that a Rovers goal could make the final 15 minutes or so very jittery for Latics, but for all their possession and territory, they still had to leave two on the halfway line to manage Drummond. Quality forward players with pace don’t have to be back in the box to do a defensive shift.

The disruption caused by multiple substitutions from both managers killed the game, and Latics, although never completely comfortable, saw the game out well enough.

Oldham Athletic: Mat Hudson, Jake Caprice, Donervon Daniels, Manny Monthé, Jamie Robson, Jack Stevens (Luke Hannant 79), Tom Pett, Kai Payne, Kane Drummond (Oli Hammond 84), Mike Fondop (Joe Garner 84), Calum Kavanagh (Ryan Woods 60)

Subs not used: Tom Donaghy, Kane Taylor, Dynel Simeu

Bristol Rovers: Bradley Young, Joel Senior, Alfie Kilgour, Luke Thomas (Yusuf Akhamrich 72), Tom Lockyer (Taylor Moore 66), Kane Thompson-Summers, Kofi Balmer, Tommy Leigh (Ryan De Havilland 80), Joe Quigley (Ellis Harrison 72), Fabrizio Cavegn (Mees Rijks 72), Richie Smallwood

Subs not used: Luke Southwood, Promise Omochere