Oldham Athletic 2-1 Bristol Rovers: Keillor-Dunn brace takes sting out of Rovers’ momentum

Bristol Rovers’ promotion bid took a big hit as they suffered a 2-1 defeat to lowly Oldham Athletic at Boundary Park.

Davis Keillor-Dunn’s first-half brace compounded the misery on what was a miserable evening for Joey Barton’s side.

The defeat brought to an end Rovers’ five-game unbeaten streak whilst Oldham began their home run after going five games without a home win.

Rovers drop down to 14th in the table and are now ten points off of seventh-placed Newport County who occupy the last play-off spot.

In a late change to the original line-up, Connor Taylor was taken out of the side after feeling uneasy in the warm-up and replaced by James Connolly.

The alteration unsettled the backline and they conceded from the first shot they faced. Nicky Adams’ header cut through the defence and found Davis Keillor-Dunn who drilled home his effort.

Aaron Collins beat the offside trap and played a pass across goal with Harvey Saunders claiming he had been brought down by Jordan Clarke, though he was the only one of that opinion.

Oldham found the net once more but fortunately for Rovers, the linesman’s flag saved them. Adams, pulling the strings in the midfield threaded a pass through to Junior Luamba, to stroke past Anssi Jakkola but he was adjudged to have been offside.

After a sloppy start, Rovers finally got out of gear and forced Daniel Rogers into a much-needed save. Elliot Anderson played a low pass to Collins on the edge of the box and his on-the-floor shot was palmed away by the Oldham keeper.

From the resulting corner-kick, Joey Barton vented his frustration, believing that the officials had missed a hand-ball from Harrison McGahey after competing with James Connolly.

Rovers were dealt a further blow in their search for an equaliser as influential midfielder Antony Evans was taken off for Sam Nicholson before the half-hour mark.

The hosts were making more opportunities and Jaakkola had to be alert to Dylan Bahamboula’s long-distance shot, conceding a corner from it. From the resulting set piece, Rovers fell further behind. Carl Piergianni’s header was put into the path of Keillor-Dunn to sweep a shot from yards out past Jaakkola.

A third goal almost came for Oldham as Bahamboula’s header went agonisingly over the bar with Rovers’ defence at sixes and sevens.

Three minutes out from the end of the first period saw substitute Sam Nicholson give Rovers a glimmer of hope from off the bench. Collins on the far-side played a ball across goal and the Scot was there to place it home in the last action of the half.

Oldham in the second-half continued to threaten from set pieces and but for the acrobatics for Jaakola who tipped the ball onto the crossbar then Bahamboula’s goal bound effort would have nestled in the back of the net and created an uphill battle for the visitors.

Another let off came Rovers’ way as Callum Whelan’s powerful effort cannoned off of the crossbar and looked to be in off the underside of the bar but the officials didn’t want to commit a goal and the deficit remained at one.

A cross-cum shot from Collins forced Rogers into his first piece of action into the second-half and then quickly up the other end, Jaakkola made a vital save to dive down low and save Nicky Adams’ placed effort.

Collins, by far the most creative player for Rovers on the evening, tested the Oldham keeper with a free-kick on the far side of the box but his effort was just lacking the venom needed to take it past Rogers.

In stoppage time there was a goalmouth scramble for Oldham to contend with but they were able to clear the ball away and hear the much-demanded sound of the referee’s full-time whistle.

Oldham Athletic (4-2-3-1): Daniel Rogers, Sam Hart, Carl Piergianni, Harrison McGahey, Jordan Clarke, Callum Whelan, Christopher Missilou, Nicky Adams, Davis Keillor-Dunn, Dylan Bahamboula, Junior Luamba (Alex Hunt, 82)

Goals: Davis Keillor-Dunn 1, 31’

Yellow Cards: Jordan Clarke 88’

Bristol Rovers (4-2-3-1): Anssi Jaakkola, Luca Hoole, James Connolly, Cian Harries, Nick Anderton (Luke Thomas, 64), Paul Coutts, Sam Finley, Harvey Saunders, Antony Evans (Sam Nicholson, 23), Elliot Anderson (Harry Anderson, 73), Aaron Collins.

Goals: Sam Nicholson 42’

Yellow Cards: Nick Anderton 52, Paul Coutts 63’

Attendance: 5137 (372 away fans)