Latics stung by Bees
Latics had their moments, but lacked a finish as they lost 1-0 at Brentford in npower League One.
It was a game which could have gone either way, but which was settled by a first-half strike from Adam Forshaw.
It was a game which could have gone either way, but which was settled by a first-half strike from Adam Forshaw.
Latics, 1-0 down at the break, could have conceded a second early in the second half.
Clayton Donaldson was released on the left and he cut in past Cliff Byrne before seeing his goalbound shot superbly blocked by Jonathan Grounds.
Latics made their first substitution 10 minutes after the restart when Jose Baxter replaced James Wesolowski as they needed extra firepower in their pursuit of an equaliser.
There was a moment of panic in Latics' defence when keeper Dean Bouzanis picked up a back pass, for which he was booked.
The defensive wall lined up four yards from goal and did its job as Harry Forrester's shot was cleared off the line. In the mass of bodies it was difficult to see who made the block, but it could have been Dean Furman.
Latics made their second switch with 13 minutes left when striker Matt Smith came on for centre-back Byrne as they went three at the back.
The dangerous Forrester forced a decent save from Bouzanis following a long-range drive.
Smith (pictured) made his mark in an unexpected manner...as a defender.
The 6ft 6in Smith needed every inch of his giant frame to leap to clear a Farid El Alagui header off the goalline with Bouzanis beaten.
Smith then came within a whisker of equalising at the death.
He got his head to a Lee Croft corner, but keeper Simon Moore made a smart save low to his right on the line.
Full-time: Brentford 1, Latics 0
Clayton Donaldson was released on the left and he cut in past Cliff Byrne before seeing his goalbound shot superbly blocked by Jonathan Grounds.
Latics made their first substitution 10 minutes after the restart when Jose Baxter replaced James Wesolowski as they needed extra firepower in their pursuit of an equaliser.
There was a moment of panic in Latics' defence when keeper Dean Bouzanis picked up a back pass, for which he was booked.
The defensive wall lined up four yards from goal and did its job as Harry Forrester's shot was cleared off the line. In the mass of bodies it was difficult to see who made the block, but it could have been Dean Furman.
Latics made their second switch with 13 minutes left when striker Matt Smith came on for centre-back Byrne as they went three at the back.
The dangerous Forrester forced a decent save from Bouzanis following a long-range drive.
Smith (pictured) made his mark in an unexpected manner...as a defender.
The 6ft 6in Smith needed every inch of his giant frame to leap to clear a Farid El Alagui header off the goalline with Bouzanis beaten.
Smith then came within a whisker of equalising at the death.
He got his head to a Lee Croft corner, but keeper Simon Moore made a smart save low to his right on the line.
Full-time: Brentford 1, Latics 0