Fans could be forgiven for thinking time stood still yesterday at Boundary Park where referee Graham Eltringham played nine minutes of added time in the second half of Latics' home match against Bristol Rovers.

Latics player-manager Paul Dickov believes it could have been even more after a series of stoppages for injuries and what he claimed was time wasting by the visitors.

Mr Eltringham played a total of 12 minutes, but Dickov says a figure of 20 would have been a fairer estimation, though he concedes that amount would never have been added on.

Dickov says there ought to have been more than three minutes added on in the opening period.

He explained: "In the first half there ought to have been more stoppage time. We had somebody timing how long the ball was out of play and we feel there ought to have been at least seven minutes.

"By the 72nd minute Bristol players had been down injured for a total of 11 minutes."

Dickov added he pointed out to the fourth official after quarter of an hour that the visitors were time wasting but it took until the 84th minute before the referee booked their keeper for delaying tactics.

The Latics manager added he was looking for consistency and common sense from match officials.