OLDHAM ATHLETIC 0, TRANMERE ROVERS 1
What an incredible contrast between Oldham Athletic’s form at Boundary Park to that on their travels.
A sixth home league loss against Tranmere Rovers left Latics 20th in the home form table with a miserable four points from a possible 24.
Yet on the road they are in fifth places with four wins and a draw from seven away days as they are averaging almost two points per game.
For some reason, Latics seems better suited to playing away from Boundary Park which is a happy place for visiting sides.
Tranmere were the latest team to triumph as former favourite and captain Peter Clarke made a winning return.
A first-goal goal from in-form striker James Vaughan, his 12th of the season, proved decisive as they made it five straight wins and seven wins and a draw from their last eight games in all competitions.
Head coach Harry Kewell made one changes from the FA Cup win at Bradford City, Raphael Diarra replacing Harry Clarke in defence.
Latics had the first clear-cut chance of the game in the 13th minute. Danny Rowe fired a free kick into Rovers’ defensive wall and the forward reacted well delivering a quality cross which was headed narrowly wide by Ben Garrity,
Tranmere took the lead in the 27th minute, Vaughan got on the end of an inviting ball from Liam Feeney to head home his eighth league goal of the season and 12th overall.
Vaughan had a chance to double his tally not long after, but he shot over the bar after capitalising on some sloppy defending.
Clarke had the last chance of the half when Feeney picked him out, but he was unable to mark his return to Boundary Park with a goal.
After a slow start to the second half, it was Conor McAleny who had Latics first effort on the Tranmere goal as he shot from range, but his effort was comfortably saved by Scott Davies.
Cameron Borthwick-Jackson had a chance to equalise in the 58th minute, but he sliced his effort high and wide.
A curling free kick from Liam Feeney caused Latics problems and would have doubled their advantage had it not been for a goalline clearance.
Otis Khan had an opportunity to put the game to bed for the visitors as they countered well, his effort forcing a save from Ian Lawlor.
Danny Lloyd went close to doubling his side’s advantage and his low effort forced a smart save from Lawlor.
Kewell’s side struggled to find any rhythm to their game and Tranmere saw out the victory relatively comfortably.
Oldham Athletic: Lawlor, Borthwick-Jackson, Piergianni, Diarra, Fage (Barnett 79), Ntwambe (Whelan 64), Keillor-Dunn (H Clarke 59), McCalmont, Garrity, McAleny, Rowe. Subs (not used) Bilboe, Barnett, Hamer, Grant.
Goal: Vaughan, 26, for Tranmere.