BARROW 0, OLDHAM ATHLETIC 0
It is good riddance to 2021 for Oldham Athletic who ended the calendar year with a disappointing goalless draw at Barrow.
The final game of the year also marked the midway point in Latics’ 46-match Sky Bet League Two campaign.
And a review of the opening half of the season makes dismal reading at Latics are rooted in last place with their EFL status which they have proudly held since 1907.
Latics have managed only four league wins, drawn five and lost 14, picking up 17 points as they are two points from safety.
And worryingly Latics have played one more match than second-bottom Scunthorpe and two more than Carlisle who are 22nd.
It is clear Latics will have to improve significantly in the second half to avoid relegation to the Vanarama National League.
Interim head coach Selim Benachour’s side will reflect on chances created in the opening stages, but they lacked a cutting edge at Holker Street, though the clean sheet was a positive.
Benachour made five changes from the Boxing Day game home defeat to Scunthorpe as Sam Hart, Jordan Clarke and Harrison McGahey returned to a reshaped back-line, while Davis Keillor-Dunn and Jamie Hopcutt featured in attack.
Latics created the clearest chances throughout the first half, carrying a threat from wide areas but they were unable to translate that into goals.
Keillor-Dunn had two sights of goal, shooting wide from Clarke’s cross before cleverly creating space on the left and sending in a dangerous effort which was gathered by goalkeeper Paul Farman.
He also had a shot blocked by Conor Brown as Latics continued their bright start but failed to build on that promise.
Latics had two escapes midway through the half. They had Jayson Leutwiler to thank for a superb show of agility to deny Mike Jones as his effort took a deflection on its way towards goal.
Then it was the turn of Carl Piergianni to make a crucial intervention, clearing the ball off the goal-line after a towering header at the far post from Patrick Brough.
Barrow started to have a greater share of territory in the second half, but Latics continued to carry most of the danger as Piergianni glanced a header wide and Nicky Adams saw a free kick deflected wide.
As the game started to open up, substitute Ozzy Zanzala shot wide before Leutwiler got down low again to turn the ball away after a scramble in the Latics box.
Benachour introduced Jamie Bowden and Jack Stobbs from the bench to try and break the stalemate.
Latics broke through Clarke who raced away down the right before finding Hallam Hope who bent his effort past the far post.
Whelan had a sight of goal from an Adams free kick, but Latics were unable to find a route to goal
Oldham Athletic: Leutwiler, Clarke, Hart, McGahey, Piergianni, Adams, Whelan, Hope, Keillor-Dunn (Stobbs 80), Diarra (Couto 90), Hopcutt (Bowden 70). Subs (unused): Rogers, Vaughan, Bahamboula, Luamba.
Attendance: 3,495 (466 visitors).