PORT VALE 0, OLDHAM ATHLETIC 0
Oldham Athletic nudged their way five points clear of bottom spot in Sky Bet League Two following a goalless draw at Port Vale.
After the win against Walsall in midweek, a four-point haul from the last two matches was a significant improvement on recent disappointing results.
Latics, who had been two points off bottom spot, and Vale both had chances to seal victory in what was a game which won’t live long in the memory.
Head coach Dino Maamria fielded the same side which started against Walsall as Mohamad Sylla, who had completed a one-match ban, had to settle for a place on the bench.
And Mohammed Maouche, who had also served a ban, was ruled out after picking up a knock in training.
After a low-key opening, Latics had two chances after 20 minutes to take the lead.
The first fell to Desire Segbe Azankpo but his shot was deflected with Tom Hamer’s resulting cross over hit.
Latics’ goalkeeper Zeus de la Paz was called into action minutes later to keep out an effort from Nathan Smith.
The next chance for Latics came in the 34th minute when Chris McCann’s shot from distance flew over the bar.
John Askey’s Vale side, who were unbeaten at home in the league, came again through David Amoo, his free header being tipped around the post by de la Paz.
The final action of the opening half came when former Latics’ player Cristian Montano’s shot was turned round the post by de la Paz.
Hamer had two shots in the first five minutes of the second period, his second being a well hit volley from a corner that went to Vale ‘keeper Scott Brown.
Limiting the home side to half chances in the second period, the next notable chance for Maamria’s team was in the 55th minute when Azankpo dragged his shot wide, narrowly missing the post across the goal after Christopher Missilou did well to find the Benin strike in space.
Ten minutes before the end Latics’ captain David Wheater nearly put the ball in his own net in a worrying moment.
Young striker Lewis McKinney, a second-year scholar, came on in the 81st minute but neither side could find that all important winning goal.
As the game came to a close, Missilou had the final noteworthy chance but sliced his effort wide after good attacking play down the right between substitute Chris Eagles and Azankpo.
Oldham Athletic (4-4-2): De la Paz; Hamer, Wheater, Stott; Iacovitti; Morais (Eagles 85), Missilou, McCann, Smith; Wilson (McKinney 81), Azankpo. Subs (not used): Woods, McHale, Sylla, Emmerson, Grundy.
Attendance: 4,301 (505 visitors).