OLDHAM ATHLETIC 4, YEOVIL TOWN 1
It was a victory that flattered to deceive as Paul Scholes got off to a winning start as Oldham Athletic manager at home to Yeovil Town.
Two goals in the dying minutes from Mohamed Maouche and Christopher Missilou gave the final scoreline the impression of a comfortable victory.
It was anything but that with Latics holding a slender 2-1 advantage in the 88th minute.
After caretaker manager Pete Wild signed off with a 3-0 victory at Crawley Town, Scholes hinted there was no need for change.
But the Manchester United and England legend altered that winning side as well as introducing a new system.
There was a recall for the largely forgotten Jose Baxter in a switch from 4-4-2 to 4-3-1-2 with Manchester United loanee Zak Dearnley given a first start.
Johan Branger-Engone had an early chance for Latics before Scholes was forced into an early change after losing teenager Tom Hamer through concussion in the 11th minute.
Minutes later the visitors created a decent opening as the ball fell to Jake Gray on the edge of the box and he smashed the ball against the right-hand post.
Francois Zoko then had a couple of half chances as Yeovil, battling to avoid relegation from the EFL, were a threat.
The half had six minutes added on due to the early stoppage for Hamer’s injury and Peter Clarke almost put Latics ahead after being picked out by Gevaro Nepomuceno’s cross from the left.
However, Latics’ skipper couldn’t quite dig the ball from under his feet as Yeovil managed to clear the danger.
Latics didn’t have to wait for too long though, after Nepomuceno brilliantly flicked it through to Branger-Engone down the left.
The winger found Baxter in the middle and he calmly slotted home his first goal at Boundary Park since he returned to the club to give Latics a half-time lead.
Latics doubled the lead six minutes into the second half as Nepomuceno crossed for Callum Lang who got in front of keeper Stuart Nelson to head home.
Baxter then forced a decent stop from the Glovers goalkeeper before Bevis Mugabi pulled one back for the away side, bundling home a long free kick into the box.
Baxter forced another good save from Nelson before being substituted as Latics remained 2-1 ahead.
However, with minutes remaining Maouche picked up a loose ball from a Chris O’Grady flick on and the Frenchman picked his spot to restore the two-goal cushion.
Missilou then volleyed home his first goal for Latics to seal the match for Latics as Scholes got off to a flying start.
Oldham Athletic (4-3-1-2): Iversen; Hamer (Hunt 11), Edmundson, Clarke, Nepomuceno; Maouche, Missilou, Branger-Engone; Baxter (Sylla 69); Dearnley (O’Grady 76), Lang. Subs (not used): Vera, de la Paz, Stott, Robinson.
Attendance 3,868 (56 visitors).