Micky Mellon goes back to the club where his managerial journey began this weekend.
The Scot put Fleetwood Town on the map with promotions and a place in the Football League, and a prolific striker by the name of Jamie Vardy. What he would not give to unearth a similar gem for Latics.
For it is that finesse in front of goal, that lethal finish, that has proved the difference between three points and one.
It was back to the drawing board again on Tuesday night, although in the circumstances it was a hard earned and welcome point, particularly having suffered a first defeat of the season at home, and facing a side smarting from having not picked up a point at all from a possible nine.
Yes, Latics might have been able to inflict another defeat on Darrell Clarke’s men had Kane Drummond got two decent efforts on target, and similarly Joe Quigley with a free header in the first half.
But against a team that were desperate to turn their fortunes around, in front of a vocal home crowd, Latics stood up to all elements and stood their ground.
Oldham have scored just twice in their opening four League Two games, but went close to making a breakthrough at Bristol Rovers, notably through Kane Drummond, who had two good chances either side of half-time and a Joe Quigley header before the break, while Tom Conlon will be disappointed not to make more of a late free kick.
But their defensive work was crucial, and after reverting to a back four Latics looked more settled in their shape, with strong partnerships throughout the spine and a solid work ethic, while goalkeeper Mat Hudson positioned himself well and made two key saves in their half, while captain Conlon weighed in a goalline clearance to deny Alfie Kilgour a header from a corner on the hour, and even blocked a shot in the box with his face, and barely even flinched.
“You’ve got to score goals, that’s the bottom line,” said Mellon.
“But to come to a place like this on a Tuesday night, to show the qualities that we showed and to get a result like we did, we’ve got to be pleased.
“We’re battling and we’re leaning the qualities that are needed to be competitive in this division. But we want to add to it now so maybe that bit of calmness or that bit of going and sealing the deal. We had some good chances that away from home you’ve got to go and be ruthless and go and slot them, and it was a bit the same at MK Dons.
Mellon wanted his men to be more assertive and not have the tempo of the game dictated to them, as has been the case in the opening fixtures and most noticeably against Swindon.
Inside the opening 10 minutes Conlon played a clever ball into the box, inviting Drummond to come inside and run onto it, but the forward – who had started on the right – didn’t react quickly enough on that occasion.
Within moments he had the opportunity to shoot first time thanks to Reagan Ogle’s run and cross, and he took it. But while it was on target, it lacked the power to trouble Luke Southwood
Latics benefited from a let-off when, after Mat Hudson made a smart reaction save with his legs to block Ruel Sotiriou’s shot from point blank range, Fabrizio Cavegn somehow put the rebound wide with the goal at his mercy.
It was enough to sense a stalemate was on the cards, even at that early stage.
Quigley backed that up by missing a free header from Ogle’s delivery to the far post.
Pressure began to build from the Gas in the second half.
Macauley Southam-Hales bent a shot around Hudson, but the keeper is at full stretch to push it round the post for a superb save.
Drummond and Conlon had opportunities, but it was Bristol Rovers who came closest to snatching it in stoppage time, as Jack Sparkes rattled the crossbar with a 20-yard free kick.
Facing a Fleetwood team managed by Oldham fan Pete Wild, with former Latics striker James Norwood now on their books, as his own striker search continues he will hope to avoid any repercussions against his former club.
“I want to go back and I want to perform. I just care about Oldham,” he said.
“I just want Oldham to win.”
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