Latics unable to land telling blow

Photo: Alan Howarth

Filipe Morais takes a tumble following a Tranmere challenge.

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Athletic 0, Tranmere 0
MISSING an opportunity to gain three points which would have granted invaluable breathing space from the bottom-three of npower League One, Athletic at least showed plenty of craft in this televised clash.

Goals were again conspicuous by their absence.
Oumare Tounkara — restored to the starting line-up and playing up front alongside Filipe Morais and the fit-again Chris Taylor — fluffed the most presentable chance, veteran goalkeeper Tony Warner blocking a one-on-one attempt in the second half at Boundary Park.

The ex-Liverpool stopper, who picked up the Sky Sports man-of-the-match champagne for his role in preserving the goalless scoreline, also denied Taylor and lively on-loan debutant Jason Lowe in the opening period.

Morais, always looking for a shooting opportunity, fizzed a shot a yard wide as Paul Dickov’s men sought a first win in 12 matches.

And the same man, flying in at the far post, narrowly failed to connect with a cross-shot from substitute Aidan White which travelled across the six-yard box.

It was the fourth consecutive fixture in which Athletic have failed to find the net and a 10th time in 11 games.

That is a frightening statistic. But solace can be taken from an enterprising overall performance that hints at better times to come — once the scoring monkey is removed from Athletic’s collective back.

Doing so at struggling Notts County on Saturday would provide a perfect tonic for Dickov, provided the defensive unit which claimed a first clean sheet in six games remains solid.

Athletic started this game slowly, but once the team found its rhythm, a Tranmere outfit who packed five men into midfield were on the ropes at times.

Lowe was the first to test Warner’s resolve.

Kieran Lee fired a pass towards the on-loan Blackburn Rovers midfielder on the left of the area and his first touch got the ball out of his feet. The second saw the ball arrowing towards the goal, with Warner forced to go smartly low to his right to divert the effort behind.

Taylor then produced a peach of a cross from the right which travelled fractionally too far in front of Tounkara and Morais for a vital touch to be added, with the goal gaping.

Back from a period away from the club with mumps, Taylor hit two further shots wide of goal as Dickov’s men continued to press gamely and Lowe failed to get over the top of his snap-shot at an awkward height.

And it was Taylor again who went close in first-half injury time, producing an effort from a tight angle that tested Warner’s reactions.

More of the same attacking intent was needed from Athletic in the second half.

Five minutes in, Morais so nearly blasted in from 20 yards only to see his effort travel narrowly wide of the far post with Warner — for once — rooted to the spot.

After Lee had created panic with a cross-shot on the volley which travelled across an empty goal-mouth, neat work from Morais and Taylor sent Tounkara in on goal unopposed.

The big striker hasn’t found the net since January and it showed. Allowing the ball to come across on to his left, the angle was squeezed down and his shot was too close to an onrushing Warner to cause too many problems fro Tranmere.

Highly-rated teenager Dale Jennings was a peripheral figure, but he almost shocked the home team after some neat footwork on the left took him past Lee before striking a shot that hit giant forward Enoch Showunmi, who standing in an offside position.

Paul Black made a superb saving tackle on Lucas Akins as the visitors enjoyed their best spell. The left-back hobbled off the field injured minutes later.

With 10 minutes left, White was thrown into the fray and had a left-footed strike blocked by a packed defence before almost creating — albeit inadvertently — a goal for Morais after a searing run from his won half.

Four extra minutes were added on to the regular 90, but despite showing plenty of endeavour the net again failed to bulge for the home team.