BLACKBURN ROVERS 2, OLDHAM ATHLETIC 2
The frustration was palpable as lowly Oldham Athletic were held to a 2-2 draw at Sky Bet League One high flyers Blackburn Rovers.
They would probably have snapped your hand off at coming away from Ewood Park with a point before the game kicked off.
Having squandered a two-goal lead, though, made it a completely different story as Oldham were left to reflect on what might have been.
Indeed, having finished the game with 10 men following Wilfried Moimbe’s sending off, they were happy in the end to take something from it thanks to two first-half goals from new loan-signing Duckens Nazon.
But a comeback inspired through goals from Charlie Mulgrew and Adam Armstrong showed why Rovers are one of the favourites for promotion.
Manager Richie Wellens named an unchanged side following last weekend’s win against Bradford City. New-signing Jonathan Benteke had to settle for a place on the bench.
Latics started brightly and could have been awarded a spot kick in the opening minute of the game when Craig Davies was bundled to the floor, but the referee quickly waved away the protests.
It was a fast-paced start to the first half as Davies then forced a save from keeper David Raya.
While the home side enjoyed the early possession, Latics defended excellently and limited their opponents to shots from long distance.
Midway through the half, Ben Pringle showed great vision to pick out Davies but the striker just could not take the ball into his path.
Soon after, Latics took the lead through a superb solo strike from Nazon.
It started from a long kick from Johny Placide as he picked out Nazon. He faced two defenders but managed to knock the ball beyond both of those and he rolled the ball past Raya to put Latics into a deserved lead.
Placide had to be wary soon after the goal as Jack Payne’s effort from 25 yards was heading for the corner but the goalkeeper made a good save.
With five minutes of the first half remaining, Latics were two goals ahead and Nazon had his second of the game.
Dan Gardner found space in the centre circle and he sprayed it wide to Nazon to run at the defence. He was not closed down and he rifled an effort into the bottom corner.
The home side made a double change at the break as they brought on Lewis Travis and Armstrong, but Latics started the second half well.
Cameron Dummigan found Nazon on the right and he crossed to Davies but the striker could not connect properly with his effort.
Five minutes later, Nazon felt he should have been awarded a penalty as he went over in the box but the referee, for a second time, waved away the protests.
Dummigan had an effort from 25 yards saved while at the other end, Danny Graham headed wide as Rovers started to apply pressure.
That pressure paid off just after the hour as they pulled a goal back as Mulgrew curled a free kick into the corner from 25 yards.
All the momentum was with the home side as they started to find pockets of space and exploited a vulnerable Latics.
After 70 minutes, they were level through substitute Armstrong. Bradley Dack managed to find space on the right-hand side and he crossed to Armstong who struck beyond Placide to make it 2-2.
Wellens soon made a double switch and introduced Aaron Amadi-Holloway and Tope Obadeyi in place of Nazon and Byrne.
Latics were still under the cosh and after 79 minutes, Placide had to make an excellent save to deny the home side taking the lead. Armstong found space on the edge of the box and fired at goal but the goalkeeper did well to tip over.
Two minutes later, the striker again found space, this time to head at goal but it went wide of the post from eight yards.
Latics were reduced to 10-men after 82 minutes as Moimbe received a second yellow card for a late foul on Elliott Bennett. That was the defender’s second booking of the game.
The hosts continued to attack and efforts from Dack and Armstrong flew wide of Placide’s goal.
Eight minutes of additional time were signalled but Latics did their best to slow the game down as much as possible.
However, in the fifth minute of additional time, Latics could have won all three points as Amadi-Holloway burst through on goal but he fired wide.
Rovers continued to pile forward, but Latics managed to hold on and gain a respectable point.
Oldham Athletic (4-4-2): Placide; Dummigan, Gerrard, Bryan, Moimbe; Fane, Gardner, Byrne (Obadeyi 72), Pringle; Nazon (Amadi-Holloway 72), Davies (Wilson 85). Subs (not used): De La Paz, Benyu, Nepomuceno, Benteke.
Goals: Mulgrew (63), Armstrong (70) for Blackburn. Nazon (26), (39) for Oldham.
Attendance: 13,665 (2,294 visitors).