RICHIE Wellens pulled no punches on his return to Boundary Park, labelling the pitch a shocker and Oldham a long-ball team.

Johan Branger-Engone’s second-half volley against Swindon salvaged a point for Latics in a 2-2 draw.

Defender George Edmundson – who fired Oldham ahead – turned from hero to villain when he brought down Theo Robinson allowing Michael Doughty to fire home from the spot.

Kyle Bennett then put Swindon in the lead before the Gabon international earned Oldham a point.

But Wellens, back at the club he managed for less than a season before his sacking in June, was unimpressed by both the standard of the pitch and the opposition game plan.

“For 70 minutes, it was total domination from us on a shocker of a pitch,” he said.

“We took a massive sucker-punch conceding from the only shot they had in the first half.

“It gave them something to hold on to. For the remainder of the half we dominated and when you are playing as we are, with quick intricate play, it was only the surface that let us down, and on occasion technical ability with our finishing.

“We came out in the second half in the same manner and they just couldn’t deal with our system. We got the second goal and then the game became a bit easy for us. We started taking that extra little touch, slowing it down.

“All Oldham do is boot it long and hope for a second ball. They scored from our mistake and it was a killer blow.”

Both sides have a lot of work to do if they are to make the play-offs, with Oldham seven points back, and Swindon five.

Oldham boss Pete Wild admitted afterwards Latics had not put enough pressure on Swindon and allowed them to control the game.

“Swindon are a decent side and they are certainly a Richie Wellens side,” he said. “We discussed getting amongst them and making it horrible for them and we made it too easy for them.

“Praise to the subs, they changed the game and made us look more dynamic. It got them backpedaling and we got an equaliser. We could have maybe won the game, Luke McCormick made two excellent saves.

“On reflection of the game, it was a fair result. We need to get back on the training ground and address what went wrong for us.”