Southend United 0 - 1 Oldham Athletic AFC: Curtis Main winner boosts Oldham's survival hopes

Oldham Athletic boosted their Sky Bet League One survival hopes with a 1-0 win at Southend.

Curtis Main's 66th minute goal secured a vital victory for the Latics who now sit six points above the bottom four with just three games to go.

Oldham came close to taking an early lead when Jonathan Forte sent an effort against the foot of the left post before Tareiq Holmes-Dennis hit a deflected effort inches wide of the opposite upright.

David Worrall wasted two clear-cut chances for the Shrimpers, firing over before being denied by Oldham goalkeeper Joel Coleman when clean through on goal.

Southend's Tyrone Barnett also wasted a couple of decent opportunities as he headed over Stephen McLaughlin's left wing corner and had another effort cleared off the line by Cameron Dummigan.

But those missed opportunities returned to haunt Southend midway through the second half when Main fired home Forte's pass after home midfielder Jack Payne had cheaply given the ball away in the centre of the park.

The defeat keeps the Shrimpers 13th in the table, 10 points below the play-offs.