Top scorer Jose Baxter's 12th goal of the season earned Oldham victory over Portsmouth, who are now four points adrift at the bottom of League One.

Baxter's drilled strike from long range proved decisive as the Latics recorded their third straight league win.

It got worse for Pompey early in the second half as Sam Sodje saw red for an off-the-ball incident with Lee Barnard.

Jonathan Grounds and Jordan Obita could have doubled Oldham's lead but they were both denied by the woodwork.

VIEW FROM THE DRESSING ROOM

Portsmouth caretaker manager Guy Whittingham speaking to BBC Radio Solent:

"We didn't start well, a mistake by Simon Eastwood - I'm not going to hold him down for that, he's kept us in the games a lot of times - but that mistake has cost us the game ultimately with the one goal.

"We wanted to try and get this goal back because you don't want to just come and accept that you're losing one-nil and the game's going to be a 'one-niller'. You want to go out and get back in the game so we felt we tried to do that.

"Having to play for the whole of the second half, virtually, with ten men is a big task.

"The linesman said he (Sam Sodje) punched the player (Lee Barnard).

"If he has done that it is inexcusable because you are putting your team mates through playing 40 minutes with 10 men.

"Despite going back down to ten men we were never out of the game. The way we kept going was as positive as we could; those are the plusses you've got to take out of the game."

Lineup, Bookings (2) & Substitutions (6)

Oldham Athletic

  • 13 Bouzanis
  • 02 Brown
  • 03 Grounds
  • 05 Mvoto
  • 06 Tarkowski (Byrne - 86' )
  • 07 Croft
  • 08 Furman
  • 15 Obita Booked
  • 09 Iwelumo (Smith - 66' )
  • 18 Barnard (Simpson - 83' )
  • 20 Baxter

Substitutes

  • 01 Cisak
  • 16 Byrne
  • 17 Murray
  • 29 Mellor
  • 10 Simpson
  • 14 Smith
  • 21 Millar

Portsmouth

  • 13 Eastwood
  • 04 Sodje Dismissed
  • 10 Moutaouakil (Keene - 85' )
  • 16 Gyepes
  • 18 Ertl
  • 34 Butler
  • 06 Walker (Reed - 77' )
  • 19 Racon
  • 35 Wallace
  • 20 Akinde
  • 23 Agyemang (Connolly - 77' )

Substitutes

  • 01 Smith
  • 22 Webster
  • 33 Rocha
  • 07 Reed
  • 09 Connolly
  • 17 Keene
  • 21 Harris
Ref: Mark Heywood
Att: 4,527

Match Stats

Shots

19 10

On target

6 4

Corners

7 5

Fouls

12 11

Live Text Commentary

90:00 +5:12 Full time

Full Time The referee blows his whistle to end the game.

90:00 +4:06

John Akinde gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Jean Yves Mvoto. Dean Bouzanis takes the free kick.

90:00 +2:52

The assistant referee flags for offside against Robbie Simpson. Simon Eastwood takes the free kick.

90:00 +2:25

John Akinde is adjudged to have handled the ball. Direct free kick taken by Dean Bouzanis.

90:00 +1:31

Adam Reed gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Dean Furman. Dean Bouzanis takes the free kick.

90:00 +0:16

Foul by Johnny Ertl on Jean Yves Mvoto, free kick awarded. Free kick taken by Dean Bouzanis.

89:48

Free kick awarded for a foul by Jordan Obita on Johnny Ertl. Free kick taken by Dan Butler.

89:23

Effort from the edge of the area by Jordan Obita goes wide of the left-hand upright.

86:35

Dan Butler delivers the ball from the free kick left-footed from right wing.

86:35 Booking

Booking Jordan Obita booked for unsporting behaviour.

86:25

Unfair challenge on Jed Wallace by Jordan Obita results in a free kick.

85:56

Inswinging corner taken by Jose Baxter from the left by-line.

85:27 Substitution

Substitution Cliff Byrne joins the action as a substitute, replacing James Tarkowski.

85:08

Lee Croft takes a shot from just inside the penalty box which clears the bar.

84:13 Substitution

Substitution Yassin Moutaouakil goes off and James Keene comes on.

82:19 Substitution

Substitution Lee Barnard goes off and Robbie Simpson comes on.

81:13

Lee Croft produces a cross, Gabor Gyepes manages to make a clearance.

80:24

The ball is delivered by Jordan Obita, Johnny Ertl manages to make a clearance.

79:49

Lee Barnard takes a shot. Comfortable save by Simon Eastwood.

78:57

Inswinging corner taken by Jose Baxter from the left by-line, Simon Eastwood makes a save.

78:45

Lee Barnard sends in a cross, clearance by Johnny Ertl.

77:25

Effort from just outside the area by Jed Wallace goes over the target.

76:41 Substitution

Substitution David Connolly replaces Patrick Agyemang.

76:41 Substitution

Substitution Adam Reed replaces Liam Walker.

76:24

The ball is delivered by Jonathan Grounds.

76:02

Lee Barnard takes a shot. Therry Racon gets a block in.

74:35

Johnny Ertl fouled by Matt Smith, the ref awards a free kick. Simon Eastwood takes the indirect free kick.

73:20

The ball is crossed by Connor Brown, Headed effort from deep inside the area by Jonathan Grounds misses to the left of the goal.

72:34

Connor Brown sends in a cross, Header from deep inside the area by Matt Smith goes over the bar.

71:41

Jordan Obita produces a left-footed shot from deep inside the penalty box and strikes the post. Lee Barnard takes a shot. Save by Simon Eastwood.

69:50

Therry Racon challenges Jose Baxter unfairly and gives away a free kick. Jonathan Grounds fires a strike on goal direct from the free kick.

68:41

Corner taken by Jose Baxter, Johnny Ertl manages to make a clearance.

68:09

Outswinging corner taken left-footed by Liam Walker from the left by-line. Connor Brown delivers the ball, blocked by Dan Butler.

67:42

John Akinde takes a shot.

65:27 Substitution

Substitution Matt Smith on for Chris Iwelumo.

64:35

Jordan Obita produces a cross, Johnny Ertl manages to make a clearance.

62:19

The referee blows for offside against John Akinde. Dean Bouzanis takes the indirect free kick.

62:04

A cross is delivered by Jonathan Grounds, clearance by Johnny Ertl.

61:25

Jose Baxter takes a shot. Comfortable save by Simon Eastwood.

59:11

Jordan Obita has an effort at goal from just inside the box that misses to the left of the target.

57:41

Foul by Jordan Obita on Jed Wallace, free kick awarded. Free kick taken by Yassin Moutaouakil.

57:20

Dan Butler delivers the ball, save made by Dean Bouzanis.

56:48

A cross is delivered by Lee Croft, Dan Butler makes a clearance.

55:09

A cross is delivered by Therry Racon, Liam Walker takes a shot. Save by Dean Bouzanis.

54:19

James Tarkowski sends in a cross, save by Simon Eastwood.

51:41

Corner taken by Dan Butler from the right by-line, save made by Dean Bouzanis.

49:19 Dismissal

Dismissal Sam Sodje receives a red card.

46:10

Corner taken by Jose Baxter, save by Simon Eastwood.

46:00

Jordan Obita sends in a cross, Sam Sodje manages to make a clearance.

45:01

The game restarts for the second half.

45:00 +1:40 Half time

Half Time The ref blows to signal half-time.

45:00 +1:25

Headed effort from inside the area by Chris Iwelumo misses to the right of the target.

45:00 +0:31

Free kick awarded for a foul by Therry Racon on Lee Croft. Jose Baxter takes the direct free kick.

44:50

The ball is swung over by Jed Wallace, save made by Dean Bouzanis.

43:47

Unfair challenge on Lee Croft by Therry Racon results in a free kick. Free kick taken by Dean Bouzanis.

42:14

Dean Furman concedes a free kick for a foul on John Akinde. Free kick crossed right-footed by Jed Wallace, Dean Bouzanis makes a save.

38:36

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Lee Barnard by Gabor Gyepes. Direct free kick taken by Jonathan Grounds.

37:45

Johnny Ertl is caught offside. Free kick taken by Dean Bouzanis.

37:10

Lee Croft gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Liam Walker. Free kick taken by Dan Butler.

36:49

Jose Baxter has a shot on goal from outside the box which misses right.

36:37

The ball is swung over by Jonathan Grounds, John Akinde makes a clearance.

34:01

The ball is sent over by Jed Wallace, Shot by Liam Walker from deep inside the penalty area misses to the left of the goal.

32:42

John Akinde fouled by Jose Baxter, the ref awards a free kick. Yassin Moutaouakil takes the direct free kick.

32:11

John Akinde has an effort from just inside the box that misses to the left of the goal.

31:52

John Akinde takes a shot. James Tarkowski gets a block in.

31:31

Foul by Chris Iwelumo on Liam Walker, free kick awarded. Free kick taken by Sam Sodje.

29:33

Therry Racon challenges Dean Furman unfairly and gives away a free kick. Direct free kick taken by Jose Baxter, Headed effort from inside the area by Jean Yves Mvoto misses to the left of the target.

28:06

Dean Furman challenges Liam Walker unfairly and gives away a free kick. Liam Walker has an effort direct from the free kick.

26:27

Liam Walker takes a outswinging corner from the left by-line played to the near post, clearance made by Connor Brown.

25:27

The assistant referee flags for offside against Lee Barnard. Dan Butler takes the free kick.

25:00

Lee Croft produces a left-footed shot from just outside the area that goes harmlessly over the target.

23:20

Therry Racon challenges Jonathan Grounds unfairly and gives away a free kick. Jonathan Grounds restarts play with the free kick.

21:14

Jordan Obita has an effort at goal from just outside the box which goes wide of the right-hand post.

20:49

Outswinging corner taken by Liam Walker from the left by-line, clearance by James Tarkowski.

19:35

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Sam Sodje by Lee Barnard. Gabor Gyepes takes the indirect free kick.

18:09

Inswinging corner taken by Dan Butler from the right by-line played to the near post, clearance made by Jonathan Grounds.

17:48

Centre by Jed Wallace, Jonathan Grounds gets a block in.

17:13

The official flags Lee Barnard offside. Simon Eastwood takes the free kick.

16:55

Liam Walker takes a shot. Save by Dean Bouzanis.

15:43

The ball is crossed by Patrick Agyemang, John Akinde takes a shot. Save made by Dean Bouzanis.

15:04

Centre by Dan Butler, clearance by Jean Yves Mvoto.

14:07

Lee Barnard takes a shot. Save by Simon Eastwood.

13:28

The ball is sent over by Yassin Moutaouakil, John Akinde takes a shot. Dean Bouzanis makes a comfortable save.

12:38

The assistant referee signals for offside against Lee Croft. Free kick taken by Simon Eastwood.

12:15

Unfair challenge on Dean Furman by Liam Walker results in a free kick. Dean Bouzanis takes the free kick.

11:34

The ball is sent over by Gabor Gyepes, clearance by Jean Yves Mvoto.

10:09 Goal scored

Goal - Jose Baxter - Oldham 1 - 0 Portsmouth Jose Baxter fires in a goal from outside the penalty box to the bottom left corner of the goal. Oldham 1-0 Portsmouth.

9:30

The assistant referee signals for offside against Patrick Agyemang. Indirect free kick taken by Dean Bouzanis.

9:20

A cross is delivered by Jed Wallace, clearance by Jean Yves Mvoto.

8:17

Jonathan Grounds takes a short corner, Sam Sodje makes a clearance.

5:34

Corner from the left by-line taken by Jose Baxter, Jean Yves Mvoto challenges Simon Eastwood unfairly and gives away a free kick. Simon Eastwood takes the free kick.

4:29

The official flags Patrick Agyemang offside. Dean Bouzanis takes the indirect free kick.

3:37

Chris Iwelumo concedes a free kick for a foul on Sam Sodje. Indirect free kick taken by Yassin Moutaouakil.

3:09

A cross is delivered by Dean Furman, Chris Iwelumo takes a shot. Save made by Simon Eastwood.

2:31

Inswinging corner taken left-footed by Jonathan Grounds from the right by-line, Dan Butler makes a clearance.

1:42

Unfair challenge on Jose Baxter by Liam Walker results in a free kick. Free kick crossed right-footed by Jose Baxter from right wing, clearance by Dan Butler.

0:00

The game gets underway.

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