MK Dons 0-0 Latics

Latics got their League Two campaign up and running with a hard-earned point on the road, playing out a 0-0 draw against MK Dons at Stadium MK.

In what was a competitive and closely-fought contest, Micky Mellon’s side produced a disciplined display against a Dons outfit widely tipped to challenge at the top end of the table this season.  

Both teams had spells of pressure, but clear cut chances were limited in a game where defences largely came out on top.

The first opening of the afternoon fell to Kane Drummond. Mike Fondop flicked on Reagan Ogle’s throw down the line, allowing Drummond to let the ball run across his body before firing towards goal, but his effort was just wide of the far post.

Drummond was involved again soon after as he picked up the ball centrally and fed Morris before continuing his run. Receiving it back on the inside, he struck from the edge of the area, but Tomlinson did well to stand firm and make the block.

At the other end, the hosts threatened when Rushian Hepburn-Murphy broke forward on the counter.  

He looked to slide a clever outside of the boot pass into the path of Aaron Collins, but Mat Hudson was alert to the danger and gathered well under pressure.

Latics continued to build down the right as Kieron Morris threaded a neat ball into Ogle’s path, earning a throw in the final third.  

When the hosts cleared and looked to break, Ryan Woods showed excellent awareness with a well-timed sliding challenge to stop the danger.

The home side then had a speculative effort through Kane Thompson-Sommers from distance, but it never looked like troubling Hudson in the Latics goal.

There were late appeals for a penalty when Collins looked to be through on goal, but Donervon Daniels recovered brilliantly to put in a challenge. The referee pointed to the corner flag without hesitation, waving away the shouts.

The second half followed a similar pattern, with both sides searching for a breakthrough but lacking a cutting edge in the final third.

Kane Thompson-Sommers had an early sight of goal after the restart when the ball dropped to him on the edge of the area, but his first-time effort flew high and wide.

Moments later, Nathaniel Mendez-Laing drove down the left for the hosts and looked to pick out Hepburn-Murphy in the middle, but Ogle was well-positioned to read the danger and clear the low cross.

At the other end, Fondop did well to bring the ball down on his chest before playing an instinctive first-time ball in behind for Josh Hawkes. Gethin Jones, however, reacted quickly to intercept and turn it behind for a corner.

Latics appealed for a penalty midway through the half when substitute Luke Hannant went down in the box under pressure, but the referee was unmoved waving away the claims and cautioning the midfielder for simulation.

There was a moment of uncertainty late on when Jonathan Leko’s cross took a heavy deflection off Woods and ricocheted off Daniels inside the box, but fortunately for Latics, the ball bounced behind for a corner. 

As the match wore on, chances fewened and both sides were limited to half-chances In the end, the referee’s full-time whistle confirmed a hard-fought point and Latics’ first of the new League Two campaign. 

MK Dons: MacGillivray (GK), Jones, Kelly, Gilbey, Collins, Mendez-Laing (Collar 87), Tomlinson, Offord, Thompson-Sommers (Paterson 61), Hepburn-Murphy (Leko 73), Sanders.

Subs not used: Trueman (GK), Nemane, Lemonheigh-Evans, Waller.

Oldham Athletic: Hudson, Ogle, Leake (Hammond 85), Daniels, Monthe, Morris (Hawkes 60), Stevens (Hannant 69), Woods, Conlon, Fondop, Drummond.

Subs not used: Donaghy (GK), Sutton, Harratt, Waters.

Referee: Matthew Russell

Attendance: 9,384 (1,891)