Oldham Athletic still await their first win of 2018 after they fell to a 1-2 home defeat against Plymouth Argyle.
Oldham Athletic’s first game under new owner Abdallah Lemsagam ended in defeat as they were beaten at home by Plymouth Argyle. Plymouth scored two first half goals through Antoni Sarcevic and Ruben Lameiras, and while Latics pulled a goal back after the break, they were condemned to defeat.
Latics made five changes from the EFL Trophy in midweek, with Anthony Gerrard, Cameron Dummigan, Ryan McLaughlin, Ousmane Fane and Gevaro Nepomuceno replacing Brian Wilson, Aaron Holloway, George Edmundson, Tom Hamer and Mohamed Maouche.
It was a scrappy opening but the visitors took the lead on 17 minutes through Sarcevic.
A long diagonal ball was headed by Ryan Taylor into the path of the midfielder who volleyed home to give Plymouth the advantage (0-1).
It went from bad to worse for Latics as Plymouth doubled their lead two minutes later. An initial shot was only parried out by Oldham goalkeeper Johny Placide, allowing Lameiras to tap home from close range and make it 2-0 to the visitors after just 19 minutes (0-2)
Latics were reeling and that forced Wellens to make an early change as Ousmane Fane was brought off for Duckens Nazon for his debut.
The striker made an immediate impact as he turned his man in the penalty area but his effort was saved at the front post.
The crowd expressed notable vocal displeasure at the decision and they was rewarded with their best two chances of the game. One fell to forward Craig Davies, who pushed wide from Nazon’s square pass when he ought to have done better, before seeing a header from a corner brilliantly tipped over by Remi Matthews.
Half Time – Oldham Athletic 0-2 Plymouth Argyle (Sarcevic 17′), (Lameiras 19′)
Oldham were given a lifeline when they pulled a goal back on 54 minutes. A shot from Davies was deflected into the Plymouth net by defender Yann Songo’o (1-2).
Latics had the momentum and almost had the leveller on the hour mark. Pringle’s corner found the head of Kean Bryan but the defender’s effort was cleared off the line.
Athletic had half chances to get back into the game as Pringle, Byrne and Gerrard struck goalwards but were all dealt with.
With 20 minutes to go, against the run of play, Argyle had their clearest attack, and Taylor may still be wondering how he did not turn Lameiras’ cross into the corner. The forward was unmarked when found by Lameiras, who was returning the favour after Taylor had set him away, but the glance fell the wrong side of the post with Placide beaten.
Wellens brought Holloway on for McLaughlin in the closing stages as he tried to get his side a goal, but Oldham couldn’t find the net and they were condemned to a 2-1 defeat.
The loss leaves Oldham 22nd in the League One table, meaning they haven’t won in the league since the 5-1 victory over Northampton in December.
Full Time – Oldham Athletic (O.G Songo’o 54′) 1-2 Plymouth Argyle (Sarcevic 17′), (Lameiras 19′)
Oldham – Placide (GK), Dummigan, Gerrard, Bryan, Nepomuceno, Fane (26′), Gardner, McLaughlin (77′), Pringle, Byrne, Davies.
Subs – De La Paz (GK), Hamer, Benyu, Obadeyi, Duffus, Nazon (26′), Holloway (77′).
Plymouth – Remi Matthews (GK), Oscar Threlkeld, Yann Songo’o, Sonny Bradley, Gary Sawyer, Antoni Sarcevic, David Fox, Jamie Ness, Ruben Lameiras (86′), Ryan Taylor, Graham Carey (90′).
Subs – Michael Cooper (GK), Gary Miller, Yann Songo’o, Lionel Ainsworth, Joel Grant, Aaron Taylor-Sinclair (86′), Simon Church (90′) .
Attendance: 4,274 (588 away).
