Tranmere Rovers travelled to Boundary Park this evening looking to make it eight wins in a row but this Pete Wild Latics side are made of stern stuff.

The youth coach has made a remarkable start to life as a manager yet was overlooked for the job on a permanent basis when Oldham opted to go for the ‘big name’ of Paul Scholes. His tenure lasted about as long as my life time enthusiasm for Rugby and he was gone after just 31 days.

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Micky Mellon’s side were promoted via the National League play-offs last season and have adapted to life at a highter level with ease. The goals of James Norwood have played no small part in that but, in truth, this Tranmere side have a very strong squad in all areas.

At the back Manny Monthe has been excellent as has righ-back Jake Caprice while the midfield pair of David Perkins and Connor Jennings have completmented each other perfectly. Kieron Morris, signed on loan from Walsall in January, has also looked very dangerous yet Oldham coped better than expected against the high flying Whites.

The game started at a frenetic pace with Tranmere looking very lively but before they could create a clear-cut opening they were behind. Callum Lang has shown glimpses of his potential this season already but you’d be hard pressed to find a better goal from the Wigan loanee.

At the by-line the 20-year-old brought the ball under control with a deft touch before nutmegging the defender. He then cut inside the box before a lovely reverse finish at the near post. The goal was simply class and Boundary Park showed their appreciation.

Tranmere tried to get straight back into the game with some probing runs from Morris and nice movement from Norwood but the Birkenhead club struggled to make a clear-cut opportunity.

Ollie Banks, not the most popular figure in Oldham at the best of times, came close with a free-kick that was well parried by Iversen but that was about as close as the away side came to a goal.

Christopher Missilou was superb in the Oldham midfield. He came close to doubling the lead following a driving run but his long range strike was deflected over the bar.

The half-time whistle blew with Oldham fully deserving of their lead as Tranmere failed to make much of an impact during the first 45-minutes.

Tranmere were unchanged after the break and they looked to try and get forward early but again flattered to deceive. Manny Monthe came close with a header that landed on top of the cross bar but, in truth, the game was bogged down in the midfield as the referee blew up for a number of fouls that perhaps could have been ignored, allowing the game to flow.

Oldham were taking advantage of the start-stop nature of the match by not allowing Tranmere to get into any sort of rhythm. Christopher Missilou shot wide after another good run forward but this only spurred the away side into having their best spell of the game.

Kieron Morris forced a good save from Iversen with a stinging shot from the edge of the box. From the resulting corner Manny Monthe almost beat the Danish keeper with a bouncing effort from distance but again the loanee did well to make the stop.

Just as Tranmere looked as though they were getting a foot hold in the game, Oldham made it two. The ball broke to Lang 20-yards from goal and the striker dummied past the defender before hitting the ball precisely into the corner from just inside the area. The strike was the 20-year-old’s 13th of the season.

The goal really spurred Oldham on and Lang almost sealed his hat-trick with another mazy run coming off the right flank but his shot was easily saved by Davies in the Tranmere net.

David Perkins and Christopher Missilou were bossing their respective midfield’s as the game was being played at bruising pace. Tranmere started throwing more players forward and created a couple of half chances with Norwood just unable to get a clean connection on his header with the goal gaping.

The mass of away fans in the Chaddy End were roaring their side forward as Rovers began to boss the possession and push the Latics back deeper and deeper.

Pete Wild took of O’Grady and brought on Sylla in an attempt to reinforce the midfield as the away side began to put on their first spell of concerted pressure of the match.

As the clocked ticked down an increasingly frustrated Tranmere failed to make inroads into the Oldham half as the Latics midfield worked tirelessly to close down the spaces and press as high as possible.

In the end Oldham saw the game out in a way that they were never able to do under Paul Scholes. Pete Wild deserves huge credit and there is no doubt that he should now be under serious consideration for the job on a permanent basis. If it works it works and this young man has shown that he has the ability to take this Latics side up a level.

FT: Oldham Athletic 2-0 Tranmere Rovers

Att: 5,143 (2,342)

words James Richards, D3D4 Football