Oldham Athletic manager Micky Mellon expressed frustration after a red card decision against Gus Scott-Morriss cost the club a 1-1 draw with Colchester United on Tuesday. The match, played at Boundary Park, ended 1-1 after an own goal in stoppage time, with Appiah-Forson scoring Oldham’s only goal in the 20th minute.
A stunning strike from Keenan Appiah-Forson gave the Latics a 20th-minute lead, a moment Mellon described as “goal of the season.” The goal was the only one Oldham scored, and it set the tone for a game that was expected to be a showcase of the club’s attacking potential.
In the 39th minute, Gus Scott-Morriss was shown a straight red card for a challenge on halfway. The dismissal forced Mellon to alter his half-time talk and tactics, a change he said “changed the game.” The decision was described by Mellon as “a number of decisions” that turned the match against Oldham.
Mellon said, “We weren’t beaten by the better team, and that’s with all respect. We were cruising and we were showing all the qualities that we undoubtedly had.” He added that the red card forced him to rethink the team’s approach for the second half.
The club’s defence remained solid throughout, and the Latics were “defending really well” according to Mellon. He praised Mat Hudson’s penalty save, which denied Jack Payne a chance to put Colchester ahead before the stoppage-time own goal.
Mellon was disappointed that the post-match conversation focused on refereeing decisions rather than the team’s performances. He said, “The game should be about players, you shouldn’t be talking about officials.” He highlighted Appiah-Forson’s strike as a “cracking little player” and a “brilliant” moment for the club.
The match ended in a 1-1 draw after an own goal by Colchester in stoppage time. Mellon described the own goal as a “sore one” and noted that the club had “run our socks off right to the very end.” He added that the club would “be back to work again and we’ll be ready to go.”
Mellon declined to appeal the red card, stating, “The you won’t win it, so no. You’ve got to pay money for that, so I will not waste the club’s hard-earned money.” He emphasized that the club would not spend resources on a decision that could not be overturned.
The match was a disappointment for Oldham, who had hoped to secure back-to-back wins. The red card and the late own goal prevented the Latics from capitalising on a strong first half.
Mellon’s comments reflect a broader frustration with refereeing decisions that he believes have impacted the club’s fortunes this season. He remains focused on improving the team’s performance in future fixtures.
