Latics begin the new decade with a defeat as Abo Eisa and Matty Lund’s goals were enough for Scunthorpe United to take all three points.
After a quiet start to the game, Eisa ran down the left-wing and beat two Oldham defenders with a piece of skill which led to Zak Mills tripping the attacker on the edge of the area. As the cross from the set-piece entered the box Captain David Wheater headed the cross away before another cross came into the box from the opposite flank, but this time Zeus De La Paz came out and demanded his area to catch the delivery to relive the danger.
Latics failed to create any chances of note before the interval, the best effort coming in the 29th minute as a long throw-in from the left-hand side found Desire Segbe Azankpo in behind the visitors’ backline, but from a tight angle, the Benin international smashed way wide of the goal.
Paul Hurst’s side broke the deadlock just before half time as the dangerous Eisa received the ball from distance and managed to place his long-range effort into the bottom corner past De La Paz.
The Iron started the second period bright with a few efforts, first Eisa produced a few steps over before smashing over the bar and then experienced striker Lee Novak held the ball up and laid it off to strike partner John McAtee, but the youngster’s low drilled shot was saved by De La Paz.
The visitors continued to apply pressure as Alex Gilliead raced down the right-wing and crossed to Novak on the edge of the Latics area, but he couldn’t keep composed and smashed his attempt way over the crossbar.
In the 82nd minute, Scunthorpe sealed the win as a corner found Lund at the back post and he had time to control the ball and squeeze a shot under De La Paz to double his sides’ lead.
Dino Maamria’s side thought they had pulled a goal back as substitute Christopher Missilou headed in a cross from the left, but the linesman already had his flag up for offside.
Latics couldn’t find a way to get anything from the game late on and this sealed Scunthorpe’s first win over Latics since October 2017.
Oldham Athletic 0-2 Scunthorpe United.
Attendance 2972 (378 Away).
Oldham Athletic XI – De La Paz, Mills, Hamer, Wheater ©, Iacovitti, D.Jones (Missilou 64’), Sylla, Morais (Maouche 45’), Smith, Azankpo, Akpa Akpro (Wilson 45’).
Subs – Woods, Maouche, Wilson, Missilou, Fage, Eagles, T.Jones.
Scunthorpe United XI – Eastwood, Ntlhe, Lund, Perch, Novak (Proctor 86’), Gilliead, McArdle ©, McGahey, Brown, Eisa (Colclough 78’), McAtee (Sutton 73’).
Subs – Watson, Colclough, Dales, Ward, Sutton, Bedeau, Proctor.
Referee – Graham Salisbury.