David Flitcroft mystified how Mansfield did not beat Oldham

Posted Wednesday, October 03, 2018 by PA

Mansfield boss David Flitcroft was left scratching his head after Oldham somehow escaped from a very one-sided match with a 0-0 draw.

The Stags battered the Latics, particularly in an outstanding first half, but missed golden chances just four days after hammering Northampton 4-0.

“Genuinely, how we’ve not gone four or five up I don’t know with the quality of the performance,” he said.

“Their keeper made five or six outstanding saves – the best keeping performance I’ve seen in League Two this season.

“I am proud of my players. That performance was miles better than Saturday and we scored four goals then.

“It was a completely one-sided football match and that group of players have done everything except finish them off. It was probably the most one-sided game I have been involved in for a long time.

“But Oldham are unbeaten away from home and are very resilient. By hook or by crook tonight they have earned a point.”

Otis Khan hit the bar from six yards from CJ Hamilton’s eighth-minute cross from the right before Danny Rose’s flicked header sent Tyler Walker away, only to fire inches wide.

Goalkeeper Daniel Iversen then twice saved well from powerful Hamilton efforts from the right of the box and kept out another Walker blast as the Latics were pinned in their own half until the break.

After Mal Benning had fired into the side-netting, Oldham finally had a short spell in which Jose Baxter volleyed a clearance over and Rob Hunt turned to fire just wide.

But Mansfield regained their momentum and pushed hard for a winner.

It seemed to have finally arrived two minutes from the end, but sub Will Atkinson somehow sent a four-yard diving header wide of the far post.

Oldham manager Frankie Bunn said: “It wasn’t pretty was it? I commend Mansfield. They came at us right from the first whistle and we couldn’t contain them.

“But our spirit and determination, when under the cosh, to come through the other side, was terrific.

“When you are put into a bit of adversity you have to deal with it.

“We conceded a bundle of goals last season but you can see so far this season that has been eradicated.

“We are a unit. We are unified – everyone will defend and everyone is together.

“Sometimes it’s not your day with the ball. It wasn’t today, but we kept a clean sheet.

“This will be a difficult place to come to and our last two games have been the best teams we’ve played so far and look to be the better teams in the league.”