LATICS boss Harry Kewell felt Tranmere’s winner should not have stood after seeing his side’s recent good run halted at Boundary Park on Tuesday night.

James Vaughan scored his 11th of the season from a Liam Feeney corner just before the half hour as the visitors came away with a 1-0 victory and a fifth straight League Two win.

But Kewell was disappointed at referee Alan Young’s decision to award the corner-kick that led to Vaughan’s goal, claiming a push in the back of defender Dylan Fage.

Entering the contest on a run of six wins from seven played, including eight goals scored in the last three, the Australian was also left to rue his side’s lack of cutting edge.

“We were not at it,” said Kewell. “We were sloppy and gave the ball away too cheaply.

“Fair play to Tranmere, but I didn’t think they caused us too many problems.

“We knew exactly how they were going to play and what strength they had.

“Unfortunately, I thought they had a helping hand.

"The goal shouldn’t have stood as it shouldn’t have been a corner in the first place.

“I don’t understand it – and they wonder why managers and players get angry when there are clear fouls not given.

“Two hands were put on the player and he went to ground. I don’t understand it. But I think he (the referee) realises.

“We had possession but didn’t really penetrate.

"We didn’t have enough desire to get down to the byline and cut the ball back.

“I don’t think their goalkeeper had too much to do though, to be honest, even though we had the majority of possession.”

Latics went close to opening the scoring in a feisty clash when in-form frontman Danny Rowe curled in an inviting cross with his left foot which was met by the head of Ben Garrity, who was unlucky to see his attempt drift narrowly wide.

Vaughan then got the only goal of the game in the 27th minute, rising highest among a crowded penalty area to plant a header in the net beyond home goalkeeper Ian Lawlor.

Having provided the opener Feeney nearly doubled the visitors’ lead in the 71st minute but his free-kick was headed off the line by Fage.

Tranmere also forced Lawlor into late saves from Otis Khan and Danny Lloyd, while Oldham – who have won only once in the league at home all season – failed to truly test Rovers goalkeeper Scott Davies throughout.

Tranmere boss Keith Hill, who celebrated a third win in a row since taking over at Prenton Park, praised Latics’ style of play but felt he had got the better of Kewell tactically on the night.

“This was a difficult game for us and I do like the way Oldham play, as a possession-based side,” he said.

“But I am really very pleased with the outcome and the way the players dug in again to record another clean sheet.

“I think personally, there are times where it’s important to know how to control a game without the ball.

"We saw that here, because we were up against a dangerous side and we tactically got the better of them.

“There are no hard luck stories and we won a game that we controlled.

“We were good defensively and we were up against a free-scoring Oldham.”