LINCOLN CITY 2, OLDHAM ATHLETIC 0.
In what turned out to be Paul Scholes’ last match as manager, 10-man Oldham Athletic lost at Sky Bet Two leaders Lincoln City.
It was a creditable result bearing in mind Latics were a man down for more than half the match following the dismissal of Jose Baxter.
But it was a sixth successive game without a win for Scholes whose sole victory came in his first game against Yeovil Town.
And Lincoln maintained their unbeaten run in the league in 2019.
Scholes handed a full debut to new West Ham loanee Dapo Afoloyan as Zak Dearnley stepped down to the bench.
After starting the brighter against the league leaders, Latics had two promising chances in the first three minutes, one through Baxter and a deflected effort from Mohammed Maouche.
The home side then got the Sincil Bank crowd going with a number of efforts, the most dangerous coming from John Akinde who fired over the bar from two yards after a low ball was played across the box. It was amazing how he could miss from so close to goal.
The hosts took the lead on the half hour mark through left-back Harry Toffolo who burst forward and played a neat one-two with Mark O’Hara before firing past keeper Daniel Iversen.
No sooner had Baxter made it 1-1 with a clinical piece of finishing in the 43rd minute than he was shown a straight red card following a reckless challenge of Harry Anderson to make the second half an even more uphill task.
And Afoloyan’s debut proved short lived as he was forced off through a dislocated shoulder as Dearnley was thrust into the action.
Danny Cowley’s men could have doubled their lead soon after the restart when Bruno Andrade crashed a shot against the crossbar.
Lincoln scored their second just short of the hour when substitute Danny Rowe curled an effort into the top corner.
Dominant Lincoln could have made the result more emphatic as Andrade was twice denied by Iversen who also thwarted Michael O’Connor.
Oldham Athletic (4-3-1-2):Iversen; Hamer, Edmundson, Clarke, Hunt; Maouche (Vera 64), Missilou, Nepomuceno (O’Grady 64); Baxter; Afoloyan (Dearnley 44), Lang. Subs (not used): Iacoovitto, de la Paz, Benteke, Sylla.
Attendance: 8,454 (259 visitors).