Covid-hit Oldham suffer late defeat to Newport County

All four of the new signings that were announced on the morning of the game went into the starting line-up, along with three other summer signings, making a total of seven debutants in the starting XI after losing five first team players due to Covid restrictions - with a combination of that group either testing positive for coronavirus or isolating due to being a close contact.

The other absences were due to injury and registration issues.

And the result was all the more frustrating given that Latics were hit on the break.

Curle's men had dominated possession in the first half, albeit without creating too many chances, but the makeshift side looked admirably comfortable even with an improved performance from Newport after the break.

Indeed, Latics were on the attack when substitute Junior Luamba lost the ball inside the opposition half, allowing the visitors to counter quickly, leading to Ryan Haynes crossing from the left and substitute Kevin Ellison climbing to glance a header past new goalkeeper Danny Rogers in the 88th minute.

There were five minutes of stoppage time in which to claw something back.

But Latics, who had a let-off with a disallowed Newport goal in the 57th minute for offside, could not find the breakthrough they needed, despite the efforts of substitute Jack Stobbs.

"We did okay in bits, well organised and a good understanding of the roles. The frustrating thing is we get an opportunity to break with a three on two, their lad makes an error, we're able to step onto it and you think if we make one pass we've got a four v three, and within three seconds the ball's in the back of our net," said Curle.

"It's difficult to take but games are 90-95 minutes and you've got to be switched on.

"Even then a loss of possession, loss of possession, allowed the ball to come into our box too easily, allowed people to get runs on you in the box far too easily, but we'll learn.

"The players showed good understanding of the shape we're trying to do, but it was difficult because we had players who have just joined us within the last two days, players that haven't trained for the last 10 days because some of the covids (isolating players) have been missing but we've been keeping in contact with them. We told them yesterday they were in the team and what their requirements are, so that's difficult.

"Seven first team players were not available for selection for the team because of Covid, injury or registration issues so that's disappointing. But overall, good understanding, good willingness, we just need (to be) a little bit better."

Latics started brightly and Carl Piergianni had the first real chance after Nicky Adams dug out a brilliant ball from the right, but the defender's downwards header dropped just wide of the far post.

While Latics had enjoyed the bulk of possession, and were causing Newport problems with their pressing game, goalscoring opportunities were at a premium, which made it all the more frustrating for the skipper not to at least steer his header on target.
But his link-up with Adams was a combination that looked the most likely to bear fruit. Indeed, Piergianni had arguably Latics' best chance of the afternoon when he launched himself at Adams' curled delivery from the right and thumped a powerful header narrowly over.

Four minutes later, and seconds after Latics had been on the attack themselves, they were picking the ball out of their own net.

Stobbs tried to set up a stoppage time equaliser, but neither Junior Luamba or Davis Keillor-Dunn could get the decisive touch.