Bristol Rovers and Oldham Athletic played out a hard-fought goalless draw at the Memorial Stadium, with both sides creating chances but failing to find a breakthrough.
The Pirates dominated the chances as they pushed for their first points of the season and went agonisingly close to scoring a goal that would have led them to victory.
Ruel Sotiriou had the best opportunity of the first half, with his close-range attempt saved by Mathew Hudson before the hosts took complete control after the break.
Alfie Kilgour was denied his first goal as Rovers captain when his header was cleared off the line before Jack Sparkes thundered the bar with a free-kick from the edge of the box. However, the Pirates could not find a winning goal and had to settle for a draw.
The visitors began brightly, pushing forward from the first whistle, but the Gas’ backline comfortably dealt with their early advances. Rovers quickly responded, with Kamil Conteh lifting a clever ball over the top for Macauley Southam-Hales, whose cross was only denied by a sharp intervention from an Oldham defender.
The visitors looked to punish a slip from Jack Sparkes soon after, Kane Drummond seizing the opportunity to strike, but his effort was safely gathered by Luke Southwood. At the other end, Rovers grew into the half, creating a series of openings. Southam-Hales’ delivery found Sotiriou, whose shot was saved at close range, before Cavegn fired wide on the rebound – though the flag was already raised for offside.
The Latics continued to threaten, winning a corner after Alfie Kilgour’s timely challenge on Drummond, with Mike Fondop heading over from the resulting cross. Conteh then tried his luck from distance for the Pirates, narrowly clearing the bar, before Sotiriou’s loose touch led to a yellow card as he lunged to recover possession.
Both sides exchanged further half-chances – Oldham’s Quigley heading wide and Rovers pushing forward late in the half – but the game remained goalless at the interval. Sparkes’ free-kick into the wall was the final action before the referee blew for half-time.
Rovers began the second period on the front foot. Alfie Kilgour probably went the closest out of any Pirates player, leaping high to latch onto Sparkes' whipped corner from the right, but his powerful header was cleared off the line.
Isaac Hutchinson then looked to score off the bench with immediate effect for the second consecutive fixture, arriving late in the box to get onto another excellent Sparkes delivery, with his downward header going narrowly wide.
Tempers began to flare, with Southam-Hales cautioned for a sliding challenge and Oldham failing to capitalise from the resulting free kick. Darrell Clarke substituted Ellis Harrison for Fabrizio Cavegn, but Rovers struggled to convert possession into clear-cut chances. Josh McEachran picked up another yellow on challenge as Oldham’s Drummond blazed over the bar.
Both sides pressed for a late winner, and in stoppage time Sparkes came closest, his free-kick slamming the crossbar and bouncing away to safety.
In the end, Rovers’ dominance in possession was only enough for a point. The Gas will feel they had the better chances but could not find their way through a robust Oldham defence.
Bristol Rovers: Southwood, Sparkes, Kilgour, Omochere, Sotiriou (Thomas 45), McEachran, Conteh, Southam-Hales, Howley (Hutchinson 62), Cavegn (Harrison 67), Lopata (Moore 82)
Subs: Young, Moore, Hutchinson, Thomas, Harrison, Bilongo, Dewsbury
Oldham Athletic: Hudson, Ogle, Daniels, Monthe, Woods, Fondop, Conlon, Drummond, Quigley (Harratt 83), Hakes, Robson
Subs: Donaghy, Sutton, Morris, Hannant, Olson, Harratt, Hammond
Referee: James Oldham
Attendance: 6706 (446 Away)
