10-man Oldham Athletic fell to defeat against the league leaders Shrewsbury Town 1-2, despite a spirited performance.
Stefan Payne gave the Shrews the lead on 20 minutes but Latics were level on 35 through Craig Davies’ fourth goal in as many games.
Latics produced a number of chances to win the game, the best coming from Eoin Doyle who rounded the goalkeeper at the start of the second half, but struck the post from close range.
However, just after the hour mark, Shrewsbury were in front courtesy of Jon Nolan’s strike into the bottom corner from inside the box.
In additional time in the second half, Doyle was given his marching orders after picking up his second yellow card of the game as Latics came away pointless.
Manager John Sheridan named an unchanged squad for the third game in a row as Latics looked to build on the four points picked up in two games.
Shrewsbury came into the game as league leaders and they showed that as they started the brighter of the two sides.
Midfielder Jon Nolan had the first shot of the game as he danced his way across the box but his shot was blocked by captain Peter Clarke.
Latics struggled to get going in the opening minutes but were almost rewarded when a defensive mistake almost played Davies through but former Athletic loanee Mat Sadler recovered to intercept.
Jack Byrne was at the centre of the action in midfield and he almost picked out Eoin Doyle in the centre with a long field pass but the striker was just crowded out.
Shrewsbury knocked the ball around confidently and took the lead on 20 minutes.
A mistake in defence allowed Payne to bundle the ball home in front of goal, despite the best efforts from George Edmundson.
The striker took a whack to the face and had to be replaced following the goal, and that saw the introduction of Carlton Morris.
Latics were almost level midway through the half as Gevaro Nepomuceno, who impressed on the left hand side, picked out Doyle down the centre but the striker could not take the ball in his path and the chance was lost.
Not long after, Byrne’s strike from 25 yards took a deflection but Shrews goalkeeper Dean Henderson managed to save on the line.
Just after the half hour mark, Nepomuceno picked out Doyle again and this time the striker managed to take on the last man but dragged his shot wide of the far post.
However, a minute later, Latics were level and it was Nepomuceno who provided the assist.
His driven cross found the head of Davies who powered past Henderson into the top corner to notch his fourth goal in as many games.
Latics finished the half strongly and created a number of chances in the final five minutes.
Another Nepomuceno ball into the centre found Davies who played a one-two with Byrne but his volley from 25 yards went over the crossbar.
A minute later, Byrne this time found Bryan 25 yards from goal but his fierce strike also went over the crossbar.
Latics started the second half strongly and should have been ahead on 50 minutes.
Davies found the onrushing Doyle in the centre, he rounded the goalkeeper, did everything right but struck against the post with the goal gaping.
Athletic were knocking on the door and had several chances to take the lead with Davies at the heart of the action.
He almost converted from close range on 52 minutes, whilst on 55, he almost back heeled into the goal but his chance had to be saved.
From the resulting corner, Davies missed his header from close range, whilst Clarke could not react quick enough at the back post.
Just before the hour mark, Kean Bryan’s corner found the head of Clarke but the ball landed on top of the crossbar.
For all Athletic’s attacking, the Shrews started to turn the screw on the hour mark as Junior Brown and Shaun Whalley both went close to regaining the lead for the visitors.
They did manage to get what turned out to be the winning goal on 65 minutes through Nolan.
The midfielder received a ball into the box from Morris, and he took a touch and guided the ball past Jack Ruddy to put the Shrews back ahead.
Latics did not stop and continued to pile the pressure on the visitors with Davies hitting the wall from a free kick on the edge of the box.
Davies almost headed an equaliser on 72 minutes as he connected with a Byrne free kick but he got too much on it and the ball landed on top of the goal.
Queensy Menig was handed his debut for Latics in the final 10 minutes of the game, and he won a free kick on 78 minutes.
Byrne stepped up and forced Dean Henderson into a smart save from 30 yards.
Another substitute, Ousmane Fane, almost equalised with five minutes remaining but he struck wide from the edge of the box.
Five minutes of additional time were announced but two minutes into that, Doyle was given his marching orders after receiving a second yellow card.
The striker dived into a challenge and received his second yellow of the game as Latics finished with 10 men.
Athletic continued to attack but unfortunately the whistle blew and Latics fell to a home defeat.
Oldham Athletic: Ruddy, Edmundson (Menig 77’), Clarke, Gerrard, McLaughlin, Nepomuceno, Byrne, Gardner (Fane 75’), Bryan (Obadeyi 85’), Davies, Doyle.
Subs not used: Placide, Dummigan, Wilson, Holloway.
Shrewsbury Town: Henderson, Riley, Godfrey, Sadler, Whalley, Ogogo, Brown, Nolan, Nsiala, Rodman (Adams 90+3’), Payne (Morris 23’).
Subs not used: MacGillivray, Beckles, Dodds, Gnahoua, John-Lewis.
Goals: Oldham Athletic (Davies 35’) 1-2 Shrewsbury Town (Payne 20’, Nolan 65’)
Attendance: 4,150 (602 visiting supporters)