Bunn says Latics win ‘near perfect’

OLDHAM manager, Frankie Bunn, said his side were ‘near perfect’ as Chris O’Grady gave the home side the bragging rights by firing in a hat-trick to hammer Bury 4-2 at Boundary Park.

The Latics put the Shakers to the sword in the League Two clash with three clinical first-half goals, two from O’Grady and one from Sam Surridge.

O’Grady completed his second career hat-trick controversially in the 63rd minute after substitute Caolan Lavery had pulled two goals back for the visitors to reduce the arrears to 3-2 in a spirited second-half comeback.

It looked as if O’Grady had illegally headed the ball out of Bury goalkeeper Joe Murphy’s hands, but the goal was allowed to stand after referee Billy Smallwood deliberated with his assistant.

Bunn praised his side’s emphatic first-half performance and conceded that there may have been an element of fortune in allowing Oldham’s fourth goal.

“I couldn’t see, and I haven’t seen a replay, but we’ve had the rough end of the stick recently, so it’s nice if we’ve had a bit of luck,” said the Oldham boss.

“I thought we were near perfect for 45 minutes and for me to say that means they played well because I’m a hard task master.

“I’m absolutely delighted for Chris (O’Grady) he’s a total professional and he’s a credit to himself, his family and to our football club.”

Bury manager Ryan Lowe took some of the responsibility for his side’s defeat, but was ultimately left frustrated by the referee’s decision.

He said: “I probably should have encouraged the players a bit more with it being a derby.

“We’ve seen it back and it’s a blatant foul. On another day, we could go on and nick something, because I thought we were on top.

“The conditions didn’t help, but that’s just football.

“The result is sickening, because it’s a local derby, but that isn’t going to determine our season.”