THE last time Frankie Bunn faced Nottingham Forest was when he limped from the hallowed Wembley turf to be replaced by Roger Palmer in the 1-0 Littlewoods Cup final defeat of 1990.

Pretty much all of Oldham was there that day. Even my mum (whose motto was 'a good big 'un will always beat a good lickle 'un') went along for the ride . . . on a Barlow's coach, obviously.

Halcyon days. Bovis, big hair and Bovril. Still got the pics.

Bunn made his name in that cup run with a six-goal salvo against Scarborough.

How he must wish for firepower like that now.

The departures of Doyle, Davies, Nazon and Holloway have left bare bones.

Second-half substitute Jonathan Benteke did his chances of earning a permanent deal no harm, mind, with a well-taken strike in the 2-2 friendly draw with Nottingham Forest at Boundary Park yesterday.

The Belgian striker, 23 – brother of Crystal Palace star Christian – pounced to fire home an equaliser after Athletic had trailed with only three minutes on the clock.

George Edmundson headed the home side in front after that, before Lewis Grabban levelled late on.

With Leicester trialist Daniel Iverson in goal and Mohamed Maouche making a rare appearance in the middle of the park, it was a far-from familiar look.

Dan Gardner’s first-half withdrawal through injury could be a worry but it’s not thought to be anything serious.

Firepower is an obvious concern. Reinforcements expected.

Latics now host Preston on Saturday (3pm).

LATICS: Iverson, Taylor (Stott 71), Edmundson (Clarke 71), Graham, Hamer, Gardner (Nepomuceno 36), Coke, Missilou, Maouche (Benteke 46), Branger, O’Grady.