Latics suffered a frustrating defeat against promotion-chasing Northampton Town on Good Friday.
The hosts found themselves behind just before the opening forty-five neared completion as Jon Guthrie steered his effort beyond the sea of bodies in front of goal from Sam Hoskins' free-kick.
After the restart, Louis Appéré notched another for his side following good work from Josh Felix-Eppiah which condemned Oldham to defeat on home turf.
To make matters worse, Carl Piergianni was shown a straight red card with minutes to spare in the clash.
Shez named three changes to his side following a defeat on the road at Port Vale last time out. Harrison McGahey, Alex Hunt and Tope Obadeyi were back in the team and looked to repay the faith that the gaffer had shown in them.
The first-half left a lot to be desired in terms of quality, especially with both sides in need of vital points as the season nears its finish. Although, the travelling support were celebrating in the fifth minute, but were left frustrated just moments later.
Mitchell Pinnock, a vital component of their team, delivered a low cross into a dangerous area before Appéré tapped into an empty net at the back post, however, the linesman had already raised his flag to the relief of the Latics backline.
Once again buoyed by vocal support contrived by The Athleticos, the ‘boys in blue’ began to apply pressure on their opposition with Liam Roberts forced into two fine saves. Hunt unleashed a fierce strike towards the left-hand bottom corner which was parried into the path of McGahey inside the box, the physical defender’s thunderous effort was denied by the shot-stopper.
Then, Obadeyi raced down the right-flank before he played it inside to Davis Keillor-Dunn, but the attack-minded individual witnessed his curled effort go straight into the hands of the goalkeeper.
Prior to the interval, Jon Brady’s outfit found themselves ahead in the encounter through Guthrie. After Sam Hart committed a needless foul outwide, the resulting free-kick was delivered to the towering defender, and he managed to flick it into the bottom corner for his seventh goal of the season.
Oldham thought that they had the perfect start to the second-half as Piergianni fired past Roberts from close range, but the referee adjudged the skipper to have handled the ball before he scored with frustration becoming apparent around the ground.
An East Midlands-based side, they manufactured a slick counter-attack which resulted in Hoskins, a long-serving player and a fans favourite, racing one-on-one with Danny Rogers, but the ‘keeper did enough to prevent him from scoring as he ushered him over the byline.
The Cobblers extended their lead in the 66th minute through a January acquisition from Dundee United. Felix-Eppiah dribbled into the area before producing a low cross to the feet of Appéré, and he flicked past Rogers.
He should’ve added to his tally straight away after he found himself clean through on goal, the frontman fired his strike past the far post which gave Latics a glimmer of hope in the contest.
It went from bad to worse for Oldham as Piergianni received a red card for elbowing Guthrie whilst partaking in an aerial battle against him.
As the final whistle sounded, it meant that Latics had tasted an irritating defeat as Brady and Northampton continue to eye up an instant return to Sky Bet League One.
Oldham Athletic XI – Rogers (GK), Clarke, Hart, McGahey, Piergianni ©, Adams, Keillor-Dunn, Hunt (Jameson 66’), Missilou, Luamba (Hopcutt 70’), Obadeyi (Couto 73’).
Unused Subs: Leutwiler (GK), Diarra, Sutton.
Northampton Town XI – Roberts (GK), McGowan, Sowerby, Guthrie, Horsfall ©, Hoskins, (Kanu 94’) Pinnock, Koiki, McWilliams, Felix-Eppiah (Zimba 85’), Appéré (Rose 79’).
Unused Subs: Maxted (GK), Harriman, Pollock, Mills.
Goals: Guthire 44’, Appéré 66’
Attendance: 5,789 (456 away)
Referee – Sam Purkiss