Goal-shy Latics off to Cobblers in control

RICHIE Wellens reacted with relief after Oldham earned a crucial point from a dour goalless draw against mid-table Doncaster.

The point means the Latics’ destiny is back in their own hands as they moved that vital point clear of the drop zone thanks to defeats elsewhere for Rochdale and Northampton.

Oldham struggled to break down a stubborn Rovers defence but they just about did enough to drag themselves limply out of the bottom four ahead of a final-day shoot-out against Northampton.

Wellens said: “I thought we shaded it. We were really pressing in the second half, but we just couldn’t get over the line.

“We lacked that bit of quality you need at crucial times.

“All in all, it has probably been a positive day, though.

“Our destiny is back in our hands thankfully, and to be honest that’s all I could have asked for before the game.

“It can be difficult for the players when we’re hearing things on the sidelines, but thankfully it’s worked out for us in the end.”

It was a cagey opening 45 minutes as a rather tense Boundary Park home crowd watched on.

There were gasps early on when an unmarked Andy Butler planted a free header inches over the top for Rovers.

At the other end, Duckens Nazon was denied by a smart closerange stop from Ian Lawlor.

Donny almost struck just before the interval when John Marquis lashed narrowly over after he had been teed up by Andy Williams.

Both sets of players struggled again in the second period.

Nazon went close following a jinking solo run, while the visitors responded with Ben Whiteman somehow scooping an effort onto the roof of the net from ten yards.

Donny centre-back Mathieu Baudry glanced a header inches wide late on as the home faithful held their breath.

And Rovers boss Darren Ferguson pinpointed a lack of quality again as his side are destined for lower mid-table.

He said: “It was very competitive, which we knew it would be.

“The players showed how much we are trying to win games right to the end, but it was an example of our season as a whole.

“We defended well and had a good shape, but where it mattered we didn’t have enough at the top of the pitch.

“That has been our biggest problem, missing too many chances – the quality hasn’t been there and it’s something I need to address for next season.”