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Latics fail to make it count

Carl Marsden
28/ 7/2004

Oldham Athletic 0
Leeds United 0

LATICS could not produce the winner their play merited against an uninspired Leeds United at Boundary Park.

The Whites, with Michael Ricketts their lone striker, barely mustered a shot on target despite fielding contract-seeking Craig Hignett and Steve Guppy.

Brian Talbot experimented with Rodney Jack on the right behind Scott Vernon and Jermaine Johnson and the results were encouraging, as was a third consecutive clean sheet.

Trialist 'keeper Rami Shaaban was busy early on, fisting clear a David Eyres free-kick and holding Vernon's header from another Eyres set-piece.

The game cracked into life in the dying seconds of the opening half as Latics went close twice.

First, the impressive Jack outwitted Danny Pugh to cross and Shaaban did well to parry Eyres' diving header around the post.

Seconds later, Dean Holden crafted room and Vernon flashed a downward header inches wide.

Goalkeeper Kelvin Jack and Matty Appleby were the only Latics changes at the break while the visitors soon introduced youngster Simon Johnson for the lacklustre Ricketts.

Chris Killen replaced Vernon for the final half-hour and could have netted within seconds, but overran the ball after Clarke Carlisle slipped.

Latics had the best chance of the night on 66 minutes when Shaaban excelled to hold Jack's fierce close-range drive following Eyres' cross.

A lame Simon Johnson shot on the break for Leeds and a rasping shot on the turn from Killen were then as close as either side came to breaking the deadlock.

OLDHAM: Pogliacomi (K Jack 46 mins), Holden, Griffin, Haining, Arber, R Jack, Bonner (Appleby 46 mins), Eyre, Johnson (Boshell 72 mins), Vernon (Killen 58 mins), Eyres (Cooksey 68 mins). Subs (not used): Beharall, Tierney, Lever, Barlow, Taylor, Forde, Lomax.

Attendance: 3,335.