Second time lucky as Davies nicks point

BRISTOL Rovers boss Darrell Clarke was left despondent as Craig Davies’ rebound from a missed penalty salvaged a point for Oldham.

The home side had the majority of the chances during a hardfought contest but went 1-0 behind after an opportunistic Billy Bodin finish.

And while Clarke believes the contest was quite a spectacle, he rued his side’s inability to maintain a lead.

“It was a humdinger of a game – both sides have had chances and we’re disappointed because once you take the lead you should see the game through,” he said.

“I thought at times we could be better with the ball but the grit and determination was there.”

The best chance of the first half came with neat interplay between Aaron AmadiHolloway and Queensy Menig that saw the latter drag well wide.

After the break a long header over the top caught a static home back-line napping and Bodin knocked the ball over the on-rushing Johny Placide and in.

It made the job even more difficult for home boss Richie Wellens.

“The majority of the game they were happy to settle for the point, we kicked off for the second half and in the 47th minute their keeper has got hold of it for 25 seconds,” he said.

“The frustrating thing is when you know a team is doing that and you concede the first goal you just make things worse.”

Substitute Jack Byrne fired up the home support as he unleashed two strikes that went close to flying in.

And Wellens responded to suggestions Byrne should have been on from the start.

“We’ve got two games in two days and Jack has felt a bit leggy,” he explained. “I felt the way that Bristol play, the game was going to be stretched in the last 20 minutes so Jack was going to be a massive play off the bench.”

The home side got back in the game when Marc Boca tripped Ryan Flynn and referee Michael Salisbury pointed to the spot.

But Clarke disagreed with the referee’s call.

“The lad’s going away from goal but we’ll have another look,” he said.

“I think that he buys it too and goes down pretty easily but these things go against you sometimes away from home.”

Substitute Davies took responsibility, had his penalty saved by Smith and finished the rebound.

Rovers then had Smith to thank in the closing stages as he made a sensational double save from Amadi-Holloway.