Grant Holt heaped more pressure on Oldham boss Dave Penney with the only goal of the game at Boundary Park.

The former Rochdale striker gave the leaders three points eight minutes with the decisive goal into the second half.

Anthony McNamee's cross found Holt in acres of space at the far post and he gave Dean Brill no chance.

Holt could have given his side the lead during a first half in which the Canaries created a number of presentable chances but without seriously testing Brill.

In contrast, Athletic struggled to fashion anything of note as Fraser Forster beat away Dean Furman's shot and Dale Stephens curled a free kick onto the roof of the net.

Nevertheless, they still came close to snatching a point late on when Keigan Parker burst through, only for Forster to save at close range.

From the subsequent corner, Reuben Hazell's header was cleared off the line by Korey Smith as Latics' search for an equaliser proved fruitless.