Bristol City 0 Oldham Athletic 2

John Eyre moved up from midfield to partner Scott Vernon upfront after the injury to Chris Killen in the midweek game. Danny Boshell went into the gap on the right wing. Calvin Zola found a place on the bench.

1st Half

Ashton Gate over the years has been a ground where Oldham have found very little hospitality from the home side and I’m not just talking about their fans. Oldham have been played off the park mostly when we have visited so surely there would be a repeat performance against a weaker Oldham side.

Bristol stated their intention to win early on testing Pogliacomi from a free kick in the first minute. Luke Wilkshire struck a low ball which rebounded off Pogliacomi’s chest and rebounded to Lee Peacock who could only manage to hit his shot wide of goal.

The game then got stuck in midfield for a while as both sides struggled with the conditions. Gareth Owen was forced off after only 10 minutes with back problems. On came Will Haining to replace him.

A few minutes later Oldham were awarded a free kick following a foul on Paul Murray about 30 yards out, Sheridan and Boshell stood over the ball and it was Sheridan who struck a curling effort just high and wide.

More problems for Oldham later on in the half as Danny Boshell was clattered into on the touchline by Joe Burnell. This forced off Boshell as well so after 24 minutes Oldham had two players come off due to injury. Youngster Wes Wilkinson came on to make his second start from the bench in a week.

A minute later City went on the attack and Christian Roberts went through on goal, Pogliacomi was late coming off his line but managed to do enough to put Roberts off who put his shot well wide of goal.

On 25 minutes Wes Wilkinson made a run at the Bristol defence only to be halted by Danny Coles. Darren Sheridan flung in the free kick to the far post where Ernie Cooksey was waiting unmarked to send the ball across goal and into the net past a stranded Phillips to put Oldham into a shock lead.

Joe Burnell was booked some time later for a harsh challenge on Ernie Cooksey but that was the least of Bristol’s problems. On 36 minutes a dangerous looking Wilkinson again ran at the defence and supplied an inch perfect ball to the onrushing Paul Murray to side foot past the keeper and to make it 2-0.

This forced the opposition into a change, Lee Miller replaced Lee Peacock and moments later Luke Wilkshire was taken off and Micky Bell came on to try and alter the game.

Wilkinson went clear of the defence, tried to round Phillips who just managed to touch the ball past Wilkinson. John Eyre managed to get the ball on the wing and sent the ball into the box where Cooksey was waiting again to head but this time his header went over. Bristol clearly hadn’t done their homework on him. You don’t give one of the best headerers in this division so much time to get his head in.

Bristol went on the attack for the final few minutes of the half. Portugese youngster Lita went close and Roberts had a shot superbly tipped over by a full stretched Pogliacomi.

Oldham held on to the 2-0 lead at half time. John Eyre was booked just before the break for a challenge on Matt Hill near the touchline, it was clumsy but he did manage to get the ball first which may have saved him from being sent off much to the disgust of the home fans.

Half Time: Bristol City 0 Oldham Athletic 2

2nd Half

Bristol came out strong for the second half and immediately forced a corner. Bell sent the ball in but it evaded everyone in the middle and was eventually cleared.

In a last throw of the dice Matt Hill was taken off and Mark Goodfellow was brought on to increase the home sides attacking options.

Bristol continued to have plenty of possession but did very little with it, passes were being misplaced and the home fans were getting increasingly frustrated. They found that Oldham’s left hand side was the weakest and they tried to play down that side but Pogliacomi kept claiming all the crosses that came his way. You could sense though if they could pull one back soon then Oldham would have a fight to even win the game. Both Holden and Haining were dealing with anything Bristol could throw at them superbly

Brian Tinnion was booked for dissent after he was incensed over a decision that the referee made against City. Cooksey was booked a minute later for what looked like a 50-50 challenge.

The home side created a fantastic chance but Lee Miller headed over after getting clear of the Oldham defence.

Oldham were still attacking on the break utilising Wilkinson’s pace to get them forward, he still looks a little raw and is tackled all too easily at times but he looks fantastic prospect. John Eyre put a free kick over the bar late on much to the delight of the home fans behind the goal.

Oldham then defended well and dealt with anything Bristol threw at them. The final whistle soon went much to the delight of the away fans. Oldham had pulled off a major shock but it was fully deserved, they had found a game plan and stuck to it and made Bristol look very ordinary indeed.

Final Score: Bristol City 0 Oldham Athletic 2

So three games in now for Talbot and still unbeaten, from a disappointing start against Colchester and Barnsley the week has ended superbly and eased the thought of relegation slightly. Next up is Wycombe Wanderers at home on Saturday and the transfer deadline is on Friday, will Talbot bring anyone in to help boost the squad?