Oldham Athletic lose to Championoship Stoke in Carabao Cup

But Micky Mellon's Latics can take pride in their performance, and plenty of encouragement ahead of the League Two campaign beginning in a week's time.

Oldham impressed at both ends of the pitch in a goalless first half, in which Mike Fondop was denied by a smart double save by Stoke captain Viktor Johansson, who also thwarted the impressive Keenan Appiah-Forson on his debut, while at the other end Mat Hudson blocked a Sam Gallgher shot superbly with his legs from close range.

Stoke got a stroke of fortune early in the second half and took the lead when a well taken Sorba Thomas corner went in off the back of Ollie Norburn's head.

That breakthrough gave Stoke some breathing space, and they looked to utilise it. Thomas caused problems with his deliveries, while Robert Bozenik and Bae Junho were a handful when they were introduced as part of a triple substitution soon after the hour.

But Latics were resilient for the most part, with Hudson saving well from Bozenik before the Slovakian striker made it 2-0 from a one-on-one after again linking with Junho.

Oldham kept going, though, and buoyed by a 2,212-strong, vocal following and the fresh legs of Tom Hill, and later Elliott Nevitt, Josh Hawkes and Lewis Temple could have pulled a goal back in the 90th minute.

Gus Scott-Morriss' cross from the right found Kane Drummond, who chested the ball down, spun and shot, but it was well saved by Johansson low to his left.