OLDHAM ATHLETIC 0, MILTON KEYNES DONS 2
Oldham Athletic’s season hit rock bottom following a home defeat by Milton Keynes Dons.
They are now bottom of Sky Bet League One and without a win in nine games, seven in the league.
And the home curse struck again as Latics have picked up a paltry three points from a possible 18 at SportsDirect.com Park.
Latics’ miserable home form is matched by a chronic inability to find the net – five goals in 11 league games is the worst return from any of the 72 English Football League clubs.
They had returned home with spirits high after a creditable 1-1 draw at Charlton Athletic in midweek.
Not surprisingly manager Stephen Robinson fielded an unchanged starting line up, reward for their efforts at The Valley.
But it was not to be as goals in each half from Ben Reeves and Kieran Agard maintained the Dons’ impressive away form.
Like Latics, they have a wretched home record, but travel well as this was their fourth away league win from six attempts.
Latics started brightly, but Dons defended resolutely and it was not until mid half that they carved out their first clear cut chance when Ryan Flynn set up Freddie Ladapo who was denied by keeper David Martin.
Dons had their first chance of the game when Agard created space in the box but captain Peter Clarke made an important block and cleared the danger.
Latics’ keeper Connor Ripley had to be alert as he tipped a Nicky Maynard shot round the post it had been heading for the bottom corner.
Dons made the breakthrough after 36 minutes when Reeves received the ball 25 yards out and Ripley managed to get a hand to his strike, but the ball went under his body and trickled into the net.
Robinson made two changes at half time as Lee Erwin and Charles Dunne came on to replace Ousmane Fane and Jamie Reckord.
Latics started the second half positively and were almost level soon after the break.
Ryan McLaughlin, who had a very good first half, won a corner on the right. Flynn found Clarke in the penalty area and he attempted an acrobatic overhead kick but it rebounded off the crossbar.
Latics were on top and McLaughlin was causing problems for Dons’ defence, powering through the middle before the ball fell to Clarke who forced a smart save from Martin.
That hard work was undone on 55 minutes as Clarke was booked for a foul on Colclough and from the resulting free kick he delivered a delightful cross for Agard to head home.
Colclough and Maynard were the next to go close for the Dons but both their efforts went past Ripley’s far post.
Latics were struggling to make the ball stick in attack and the manager brought on Darius Osei in the place of Ladapo.
However, it would be Dons who almost added a third goal as Agard struck the crossbar from 12 yards.
Late in the game, Latics’ centre back Cameron Burgess had two headed that forced saves from Martin, but there was never any doubt Dons would leave with the three points.
Oldham Athletic (4-4-2): Ripley; Dummigan, Clarke, Burgess, Reckord (Dunne 46); McLaughlin, Fane (Erwin 46), Green Flynn; Mckay, Ladapo (Osei 68). Subs (not used): Kettings, Law, Banks, Winchester.
Goals: Reeves 36, Agard 55 for MK Dons.
Attendance: 3,273 (193 visiting supporters)