Oldham hit back for a well earned point at Boundary Park as Bristol City were denied their first away win of the season.
Tony Butler scored his first goal of the season for the visitors, but the centre back later made the mistake which allowed teenage loan signing Calvin Zola to fire his first goal in league football.
Zola, an 18-year-old centre forward, signed by Oldham at the height of their ongoing crisis, was tipped for a bright future with his employers Newcastle by Latics manager Iain Dowie.
Dowie said: "He is a raw talent but he will be a tremendous player when you consider his tender years and lack of experience.
"Calvin's goal was very well taken and it brought us a draw which we certainly deserved on the balance of play.
"Maybe we should have won but I will not criticise the lads when they play decent football and put in such a great amount of effort.
"There were more encouraging signs and the spirit we showed will again stand us in good stead for a very tough match at Barnsley on Tuesday." City Manager Danny Wilson was less satisfied with the point. He said: "We took our foot off the pedal.
"After going a goal up I thought we would go on to win it but out passing isn't quite crisp enough at the moment - maybe there was a touch of complacency right at the start of the season when we beat Notts County 5-0 on the first day." The game had few clear chances and the visiting goalkeeper Steve Phillips faced one of his rare tests after six minutes as he kept out a thunderous shot from Zola.
Danny Hall and John Eyre also went close for Oldham but City scored after 34 minutes when Brian Tinnion crossed and Butler headed in powerfully from six yards.
Lee Miller sent a shot over the bar before Oldham leveled on 54 minutes, with a helping hand from Butler.
He crucially failed to control a long ball over the top and Zola nipped in to slot into the bottom corner from 16 yards.
City substitute Leroy Lita forced a save and Oldham's Mickael Antoine-Curier was also lively but the stalemate could not be broken.