Latics’ boss Paul Dickov earned a timely victory at Glanford Park. First senior goals from David Mellor and Matt Smith gave 10-man Athletic their first points of the season and were just reward for a bold selection policy.

Dickov made three changes to the side beaten at Yeovil, handing full debuts to Mellor and Josh Parker, and placing full-back Carl Winchester in the centre of midfield.

It was a back-to-basics approach from the visitors, not allowing their hosts any time on the ball and making good use of their possession.

Scunthorpe had the better of the early chances, with Garry Thompson striking the woodwork from 20 yards.

Mellor gave Athletic the lead on 16 minutes, delightfully curling a shot with his weaker right foot past Josh Lillis.

With Scunthorpe living off scraps, Reuben Reid should have doubled Athletic’s lead but scuffed wide from eight yards.

The home side finally woke up after the break with Chris Dagnall drawing a good save from Alex Cisak.

Michael O’Connor and Mark Duffy shot over from distance before Scunthorpe’s pressure paid off after 64 minutes when Dagnall ran at the defence and fired across Cisak into the corner of the net.

Chris Taylor’s deflected shot and Josh Parker’s fierce effort drew saves out of Lillis while Eddie Nolan fired tamely at Cisak before Duffy struck Cisak’s left-hand post.

After that slice of luck, Athletic notched their winner seconds later when Smith’s towering header looped over Lillis.

The woodwork came to Latics’ rescue for a third time when Bobby Grant struck the bar and, despite Jean-Yves M’Voto’s late red card for a second booking, Dickov’s men held out.

OLDHAM: Cisak 7, Lee 7, Diamond 8, M’Voto 8, Black 7, Parker 8, Winchester 8, Wesolowski 7, Mellor 8 (Morais 67, 7), Taylor 7, Reid 7 (Smith 68, 7). Not used: Gerrard, Lund, Millar.

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