One all, we don't need another draw

I’m currently 3rd in the Championship in the OWTB Prediction League. (Andy Halliwell is top, I've got him in my sights.) It’s an absolute piece of piss at the minute, predict 1-1 as the result every week and you’re guaranteed points. If only they gave you the option to predict that we’ll concede from a set piece.

The first half against Southend last Saturday, aside from a decent chance we had from a corner when it bobbled around the six yard box but no-one managed to put it away, was crap. We lost Charsley early on to injury, which was a huge blow. The loudest noise from the Rocky came from people shouting at a couple of the Athleticos to put their flags down; I felt like telling them “It’s fine, you’re not missing anything”.

The opening goal was identical to the goal we conceded at Altrincham. We looked so solid at the back the first couple of games of the season, why are we now so awful at defending set pieces? With 10 minutes of the first half left, I’d had enough and went the bar, which had no spirits, no wine and no Manchester Craft. Sort it out, lads.

We brought Fondop on for Dolan in the second half, and we did look more of a threat with two up front. Khan came on for his debut, and also looked decent – being of the short-arsed persuasion myself, his ability to win headers was impressive. There was some redemption for God’s number 9 when he put away a lovely looping header away from Gardner’s corner to equalise.

We looked the more likely team to win after that, but alas, it was another afternoon of frustration and disappointment, compounded by Norwood hobbling off at the end.

As well as calling Sexy Dave ‘Captain Hindsight’, Mellon sounded as annoyed as we were at conceding another sloppy goal from a free kick, after they’d talked about the goal at Altrincham all week: “that’s pissed us off to be perfectly honest with you”. He was keen to praise Fondop’s character for scoring after he’s come in for a lot of stick and stressed that the players are being told to back themselves, to play it forward, and to get higher up the pitch. Apparently, he hadn’t wanted Norwood to play 90 minutes, but we were chasing the game, and let’s face it, if he’d brought a striker off at 1-1, a lot of people would have been howling.

Watching the England v Ireland game in the fans’ bar after the match, I could only rue my failure to bet on Rice and Grealish scoring. It was nailed on that they would. Equally predictably, Rice was very demure and very mindful after he scored, and Grealish was a little shit and cupped his ears to the crowd.

As for the manufactured outrage over Lee Carsley not singing God Save The King…. Personally, I can’t see what’s so unpatriotic about not wanting to sing an utter dirge about an unelected hereditary head of state that doesn’t actually mention the nation that it’s meant to be the anthem of, but whatever.

To compound the underwhelming matchday experience, the women’s toilet outside the fans’ bar wasn’t flushing after the game. Sort it out, lads. Functioning plumbing and spirits and/or wine in the Rocky bar really isn’t too much to expect. It’s not like I’m asking for us to sign another striker. No, scrap that, I am very much asking for another striker. Be realistic, demand the impossible.

We really could have done with a reaction at Halifax, but, once again, the first half performance was pretty dismal. Hudson made a great save with his feet early on, then later turned a long range shot round the post for a corner. The fact that he probably kept us in the game in the first half was something to bear in mind later on.

Mellon clearly gave the players a rocket up their arses at half time, and we took the lead early on in the second half to give the majority (just) of the crowd something to cheer. Ogle’s long throw was a great weapon again, Monthe – who had another impressive game – did a great cheeky backheel in the box, and Mark Kitching poked the ball into the net to claim bragging rights as the top scorer in his and Reid’s flat.

We looked like we were in the ascendancy, with Dolan shooting just wide from outside the box a few minutes later, and Fondop heading just over shortly after. You know what’s coming next, though. You’ve seen this film before. A short corner by Halifax was only half cleared, it was floated back into the penalty area, and the ball was headed in practically through Hudson’s hands. That’s just what Oldham do, they just concede from set pieces. Hudson should have done better, but as Mellon pointed out after the game, “he’s got a lot of credit in the bank, let’s be fair”.

Fondop had the ball in the back of the net, but it was ruled out for offside. I’m not sure if it was or wasn’t, but he does tend to stray offside a bit. Khan was brought on for Dolan, partly because Dolan was on a yellow card, which seems hilariously ironic with hindsight. Was it a yellow for the foul and then a yellow for dissent, or two yellows for dissent? It was incredibly daft, but it was also funny as fuck, and if at least one of the cards was for calling the ref a blind prick, then I can’t say I blame him.

We looked more up for it after the sending off and probably should have won it, but, hey, that’s just what Oldham do. They just draw games 1-1.

Mellon described it as a ‘solid away performance’ and a ‘really good battling point’ but assured us that he’s not setting us up to draw, “we’re going for it all the time”. He praised the travelling support – “magnificent, absolutely magnificent” – and did not praise the officials: “the refereeing was shocking… I didn’t know what he was gonna do next”.

I’m inclined to believe Mellon when he says we’re on the right track and we shouldn’t lose sight of the improvements in the team. Last season, the players’ heads would drop, and the game was lost as soon as we conceded. The players we’ve signed are an improvement on the ones we’ve let go. It needs to translate into results, though. It’d be idiotic to be less patient with Mellon than we were with Unsworth. 4 points from 5 games is nothing like promotion form, though. And I want us to get promoted far more than I want to win the prediction league.

I guess a 1-1 draw is preferable to a 4-1 pasting at a Southern Leisure Centre, but, call me a dreamer, I want more. We’re Oldham fucking Athletic. We should expect to win at the (checks notes, sighs) Laithwaite (not Laithwaites, the wine merchant, oh no, nothing so glamourous) Community Stadium. Safe journey if you’re off to Woking. Here’s hoping today’s the day we start turning draws into wins. KTMFF.

Written by Arlene Finnigan. Photos © Oldham Athletic.