A SOLID START TO DUNN’S REIGN
DAVID DUNN praised the character of his players after winning his first point as Oldham Athletic’s caretaker manager.
Jonathan Burn’s first half header rescued a valuable point for Oldham after Andy Butler had fired Doncaster ahead in the battle of the League One strugglers.
The Latics then defended solidly to keep Rovers at bay during a dominant second half from the home side.
Dunn, who was put in charge following last Saturday’s 5-1 thumping by Peterborough, said:
“You cannot underestimate the value of a point. There were plenty of cuts and bruises and this was a very solid point for us.
“One thing that should be a given in football is that you work hard, and the lads put in a really good shift.The boys worked their socks off and I thought they showed great character to fight back from going a goal down away from home.
“We need to be more disciplined and not give away as many silly free-kicks as we did. Credit to the linesman for giving our goal, I thought the officials were excellent.”
Curtis Main and James Coppinger both wasted good chances to put the home side ahead during a flat first 20 minutes.
But Rovers took the lead when Andy Butler tapped home after Oldham failed to clear Andy Taylor-Sinclair’s free-kick on 27 minutes.
The visitors levelled seven minutes later after the linesman ruled that Burn’s header had crossed the line.
Dany N’Guessan wasted a glorious chance to re-assert Rovers’ lead when he missed an open goal after Cameron Stewart’s free-kick crashed against the post.
N’Guessan scuffed an effort wide on 57 minutes as both sides showed a lack of creativity during a dull start to the second half.
Coppinger was the latest to fire wide for Rovers after his surging run through midfield created a sight at goal on 70 minutes.
Rovers came close to going ahead two minutes later when N’Guessan robbed a defender on the halfway line, before firing over after a powerful run.
N’Guessan knew it wasn’t going to be his, or Rovers’ day, when he headed Cameron Stewart’s cross with six minutes remaining.
Mike Jones then cleared Gary MacKenzie’s shot off the line in injury-time to earn OIdham a vital point.
And Rovers caretaker boss Rob Jones believes his team are on the up.
“We started very nervously in the first 20 minutes and couldn’t get a foothold in the game,” he said. “It was very cagey until we got our goal.We had a loss of concentration for their goal, we can debate whether it went in or not, but it stands and it was a disappointing goal to concede.
“I thought we were excellent in the second half, we were dominant and controlled the game. We had enough chances to win the game and did everything but put them away.
“I’m pleased with every aspect apart from their goal. That’s the most chances we have created in the last four or five weeks.”