Weak Latics go down without a fight

The Latics miss of the season competition has a new and very competitive entry. When Keenan Appiah-Forson robbed Rochdale keeper Nils Ramming on the penalty spot and the ball spilled out to the on-running Mike Fondop, he had the whole 192-foot square goal to aim at, and the whole Willbutt's Lane stand were already on their way into the air. He had time to set himself and hit the barely moving ball cleanly. It was incredible, unbelievable, mind-blowing, but you can't say that it took the wind out of Latics' sails because they had no wind in them to start with.

Latics were already 1-0 down when Fondop did what he did. They went behind on seven minutes to a goal that they should never have conceded. Rochdale got a free kick in midfield, played it out to 20-year-old Charlie Tasker on the right. His cross was controlled and finished by Dan Moss from two yards out. From a defensive point of view, it was shambolic.

After Fondop's miss, Latics went about their business in a more coherent fashion but their finishing was awful. Drummond should have scored at least twice, Scott-Morriss should have done better with a headed effort straight at the keeper. Mellon's assertion that his players need to be more clinical has never been truer. They had 11 shots in the first half and hit the target once.

As for the opposition in the first half, they were awful too, but in a different way. They are much less capable than Latics. On paper before the game, Latics outmatched them man for man all the way down the team and substitutes. They couldn't get on the ball and couldn't keep it from their restarts. But they scored.

Mellon changed things at half time. Kai Payne made way for Calum Kavanagh, and Favour Fawunmi and Drummond swapped wings. They immediately looked better balanced. When Drummond put in a low cross, neither Kavanagh nor Fawunmi were able to get the final touch.

Latics were asserting their man-for-man superiority all over the pitch, but when you can't score one to get back into the game, you don't really think about having to get two.

And all of a sudden Latics did need two after Dajaune Brown skipped into the area and produced a beautiful finish, curling it low into Mat Hudson's left-hand corner. What wouldn't Mellon do to see one of his players sneak it in it at the base of the post like Brown did?

Latics had nothing in response and gave the Rochdale players and fans a really nice afternoon. At the end, the Latics fans responded to what they had seen by singing "What the fucking hell was that?" at the players, manager and coaching staff.

*We've used seven fan-sourced pics of today's game, which means we'll donate £35 to Dr Kershaw's.

Rochdale: Nils Ramming, Charlie Tasker, Kaiden Wilson (Laurence Maguire 67), Harvey Gilmour (c), Baba Adeeko, Jonny Smith (Luke Hannant 57), Kane Taylor (Ed Francis 77), Dan Moss (Tobi Adebayo-Rowling 67), Dajaune Brown (Mani Dieseruvwe 77), Aden Flint, Glenn Middleton

Subs not used: Sam Waller, Cian Hayes

Oldham Athletic: Mat Hudson, Gus Scott-Morriss, Jamie Robson, Donervon Daniels (Lewis Temple 66), Manny Monthé, Keenan Appiah-Forson, Ollie Norburn (c), Mike Fondop, Kane Drummond, Favour Fawunmi (Josh Hawkes 66), Kai Payne (Calum Kavanagh HT)

Subs not used: Aston Wilson, Tom Pett, Noah Chilvers, Oli Hammond