OLDHAM ARE LOOKING UP WITH DOYLE FIRING AGAIN
Striker’s return is trouble for rivals
SCUNTHORPE praised their groundstaff and fans before the match, for working throughout Friday and Saturday morning to clear several inches of snow off the Glanford Park pitch to ensure this clash was one of few to beat the wintry weather.
Tellingly, it was the Latics who tweeted their thanks to their hosts after the game, as strikes from Patrick McEleney and fellow substitute Eoin Doyle earned them a third win in four matches.
Oldham are now out of the bottom four and looking up.
Boss Richie Wellens is also salavating at the increasing number of options at his disposal, after seeing his three changes in four minutes turn a scrappy clash in their favour.
“There’s a real positive feel in the dressing room and the good run we’re on has filled us with belief,” said Wellens.
“But the biggest positive is that everyone worked as a team.
“It was important the starting XI gave us a real base to work from, but now when I look at the bench there’s some real positive players on there.
“I was frustrated in the first half that we didn’t penetrate them enough or get shots off. I shouted to Jack Byrne to take a strike, because someone of his abil- ity and technique, if you take a shot, you don’t know what’s going to happen. The keeper can make a mistake or, as happened, it can come off somebody’s back.
“It was a fortunate way to go ahead, but in terms of our overall performance, we deserved the win.”
Scunthorpe were the better side in a largely tepid opening 45 minutes which did little to warm the crowd on a freezing afternoon.
Craig Davies blasted over the bar on the back of a good run up the byline by full-back Wilfried Moimbe, and Duckens Nazon was equally as wasteful, shooting woefully wide after getting in behind the Iron defence. For the hosts, Habeeb Adelakun drew a decent save out of Johny Placide after some good footwork, and later crossed into the box from where Josh Morris headed against the bar.
Scunthorpe stepped up a gear after the break before Wellens' triple change, with Aaron Holloway, McEleney and Doyle all coming on inside four minutes, ensured Oldham finished strongly.
They went ahead in the 78th minute when a powerful shot from Jack Byrne spun up off the back of McEleney, wrong-footed Matt Gilks and nestled into the top corner to give the former Dundalk midfielder a debut goal.
Four minutes later they made the game safe with Doyle coolly finding the bottom corner from a ball into the box.
In contrast to Oldham’s improving fortunes, the Iron have won just once in ten games and manager Graham Alexander admits they are feeling the pressure.
“It’s a difficult period for us and it becomes a difficult game when something like the first goal goes against you,” he said.
“But we’re in a position to take advantage of. We can’t let that go to waste.
“Any team in any league feels pressure if you win once in ten games, but you’ve got to enjoy that pressure, which comes from being in a good position in the first place.
“I don’t think our performance was that bad. It wasn’t a game of great quality but at 0-0 we had chances to take the lead.
“We’ve got a good record with regards to comebacks, but sometimes you take a bloody nose.”