OLDHAM Athletic caretaker boss Pete Wild admitted his side lacked a killer instinct after they extended their unbeaten run to five games with a 0-0 draw at Cheltenham Town.

In a game of very few chances, the defences were on top at the Jonny-Rocks Stadium as the Latics missed out on the chance to move closer to the League Two play-off places.

Daniel Iversen was the busier of the two goalkeepers, making a one-on-one block in the second half and Cheltenham had a goal disallowed in the opening period.

But neither side could find a breakthrough and while Wild was frustrated to only come away with a point, he insisted there were plenty of positives to take away from the game.

“I thought we controlled large parts of the game,” said Wild. “We dominated the ball and when we didn’t have the ball we had control of the game.

“We were really happy with how we were controlling the football match, we just couldn’t get it over the line. We huffed and puffed, tried putting some legs on.

“We even putting Rob Hunt on the right hand side to give us some legs and see if we could get a winner with some pace, but unfortunately it didn’t work for us.

“We just couldn’t find that killer edge to get the ball over the line. We maybe took one touch too many, maybe we didn’t get our shots away quick enough,

or slip people in when there were runs being made.

“Those are the fine margins, but it’s another clean sheet and two goals conceded in five games, five unbeaten and we’ll take the positives from it. Overall, we did really well.

“Daniel Iversen had nothing to do for 90 minutes and then has to make the big saves at the big moments and we are pleased with that.”

The home side created the first two chances of the game with Luke Varney’s header clearing the bar in the fourth minute before George Lloyd glanced a cross from Chris Hussey just wide.

Oldham’s first sight of goal came in the 16th minute when hesitation from goalkeeper Scott Flinders on the edge of his penalty area presented Jose Baxter with a shot which he fired over the bar.

A fine ball in from Oladapo Afolayan was nearly reached by Baxter, who forced Flinders into a diving save two minutes later, but Cheltenham finished the half on top when Hussey’s volley was blocked.

The home side had the ball in the net in the 38th minute when Charlie Raglan powered in a header from Hussey’s corner, but referee Ben Toner spotted a foul in the box and Oldham were awarded a free kick.

Wild made a change at the break with Mohamed Sylla replacing Baxter and the Latics made a positive start to the second period with Tom Hamer firing over after Afolayan’s pass in the 55th minute.

A low free kick from Mohamed Maouche was turned around the post by Flinders and another set piece from the edge of the box from Gevaro Nepomuceno was ballooned over the bar.

Iversen made an important block to deny Kevin Dawson, who raced through on goal after an hour.

Sylla cleared Will Boyle’s header away in the six yard box after Hussey’s deep corner delivery and Iversen comfortably saved a left-footed shot from Luke Varney.

Wild sent on Jonathan Benteke in place of Afolayan with 13 minutes remaining and Maouche smashed a shot over the bar from 25 yards late on.

Callum Lang forced Flinders into a save in stoppage time, but neither side could find the winner.

Cheltenham Town: Scott Flinders; Charlie Raglan, Ben Tozer, Will Boyle; Sean Long (Ryan Broom 77), Jordan Tillson (Jacob Maddox 63), Connor Thomas, Kevin Dawson, Chris Hussey; George Lloyd (Billy Waters 56), Luke Varney.

Subs not used: Rhys Lovett, Jordon Forster, Chris Clements, Rakish Bingham.

Oldham Athletic: Daniel Iversen 8; Tom Hamer 7, George Edmundson 7, Peter Clarke 7, Alex Iacovitti 6; Callum Lang 7, Christopher Missilou 6, Mohamed Maouche 6, Gevaro Nepomuceno 6 (Rob Hunt 82, 6); Jose Baxter 7 (Mohamed Sylla 46, 6), Oladapo Afolayan 7 (Jonathan Benteke 77, 6).

Subs not used: Giles Coke, Chris O'Grady, Zeus de la Paz, Sonhy Sefil.

Referee: Ben Toner.

Attendance: 4,022 (544 away).