BRADFORD CITY 3, OLDHAM ATHLETIC 0
Oldham Athletic hit rock bottom following their Sky Bet League Two defeat at Bradford City.
It doesn’t get any worse than being bottom and the only team in the division without a point after three games.
Latics’ lack of experience was glaringly obvious as all three Bantams’ goals came from veterans James Vaughan, Clayton Donaldson and Sean Scannell.
It was hugely disappointing for head coach Laurent Banide who had picked the same side that performed so admirably in the 3-2 defeat at Championship club Blackburn Rovers in the Carabao Cup.
Sadly there were no positive points to take from this loss against Latics’ Roses rivals who had also been without a win in league and cup – hard to believe on the evidence of this match.
As both sides went into the game still searching for their first victory of the season, it was Gary Bowyer’s side who started the brighter as Latics conceded early on again.
Bantams’ captain Vaughan tapped in from close range after an inch-perfect cross from Connor Wood.
After going a goal down, Latics responded with a number of half chances and a succession of corners to put pressure on the home side.
Latics’ captain Mohammed Maouche came closest to equalising in the 21st minute as his shot from the edge of the box hit the upright, rebounding across goal behind goalkeeper Richard O’Donnell and past Desire Segbe Azankpo who was flagged offside.
Just after the half-hour Bradford celebrate again as, against the run of play, Vaughan’s strike partner Donaldson got in on the act. Receiving the ball in acres of space on the right, he finished on the half volley into the top right corner giving goalkeeper Gary Woods no chance.
Then on the 35th minute, the hosts hit the crossbar through Vaughan’s header as Zak Mills lost out on a tussle on the left.
Latics’ afternoon got worse when they lost midfielder Christopher Missilou to injury late in the opening period.
The home side, which hadn’t won at Valley Parade since March, went into the break holding a commanding 2-0 advantage.
It was a pretty uneventful second period until Scannell brought the game back to life when he added a third goal in the 71st minute as he ran on to a Donaldson lay off before he rifled home an unstoppable shot.
Both sides made changes in the closing stages, with Latics trying to get a goal back, but tame efforts from Mohamad Sylla and a Maouche free-kick didn’t trouble Bantams’ keeper.
Oldham Athletic (4-1-4-1): Woods; Mills, Iacovitti, Sefil, Smith-Brown (Hamer 46); Sylla; Fage Maouche, Missilou (Wilson 36), Nepomuceno; Azankpo (Eagles 77). Subs (not used): Zabret, Stott, Branger-Engone, Vera.
Attendance: 14,447 (1,045 visitors).