That was Branston's second red card of the season, so he now faces a four game ban. He misses the rematch against Wrexham in the league this Saturday, as well as the games against Brentford, Luton and Walsall.
It also looks like Alex Bruce has played his last game for Latics. The defender was recalled by Birmingham boss, and Alex's dad, Steve. His loan spell was due to expire on the 19th March, a week on Saturday. Instead, it seems that Birmingham want Bruce to help them escape a bad run of form that has seen them slip down the Premiership table.
The recall did come at a bad time, but that doesn't take away the fact that Alex did a good job on loan at Latics. And at least Steve Bruce did not recall Neil Kilkenny too...
The striker who turned down a move to Oldham was Dean Bowditch. The 18-year old is a recognised "wunderkind", and is one of the hottest properties in the football league.
Bowditch's club manager, Latics legend Joe Royle of Ipswich Town, gave his permission for Bowditch to go on loan. He thought that a short-term move to the lower leagues would toughed up the rookie. But Bowditch preferred to help Ipswich in their promotion push to the Premiership.
That is a shame, because most of Athletic's strikers are either injured (Chris Killen, Scott Vernon) short of match practice (Rodney Jack) or have recently stopped wearing nappies (Kenny Cooper, Matty Wolfendon et al; all talented players but lacking in experience).
Latics manager Ronnie Moore has said that "it sticks out like a sore thumb that we need someone to stick the ball in the back of the net". In order to mend the sore thumb he is scouring the country for strikers. so if you are a talented striker who has got all limbs working, and knows what a ball looks like, contact the club.