Oldham Athletic 0 Bristol Rovers 2:

Darryl Duffy scored his fifth goal in seven games – and Byron Anthony his first of the season – to reward Bristol Rovers for an improved second-half performance with victory at Boundary Park.

It was the fourth time in a row that Paul Trollope's side have taken maximum points against the Latics and keeper Steve Phillips also played his part by saving a first-half penalty from Lee Hughes.

Oldham had enjoyed the better of a scrappy opening period which also saw veteran marksman Dean Windass rattle the underside of the visitors' bar with a fierce shot.

But Rovers rallied after the interval and once Duffy fired them into the lead soon after the re-start, they always looked the likelier winners.

They had made two changes from the side that had suffered a 1-0 home defeat to Leicester City on Saturday.

Top scorer Rickie Lambert was recalled to the starting line-up at the expense of Jo Kuffour, who started on the bench.

Central defender Craig Hinton was still feeling the effects of a knee injury and was also named among the substitutes with Anthony called up to partner Steve Elliott at the heart of the Pirates' back line.

Rovers had struggled to make much impression up front in the opening period, although justice looked to have been done when Phillips saved a penalty for the second away game in a row to keep the visitors on level terms at the break.

Hughes appeared very fortunate to win the spot kick decision from referee Colin Webster just before the half-hour.

The former West Brom marksman had chased a long ball forward and tumbled as Phillips advanced to the edge of his box. There may have been fractional contact, but the ball looked to be running out of play and it could not have been classed as a goalscoring opportunity.

Phillips, who had come to the rescue in the recent 2-0 win at Scunthorpe, did so again as Hughes aimed his strike too close to the Pirates' shot-stopper.

Apart from the penalty drama, most of the first period was a scrappy affair – although veteran marksman Windass smashed a shot against the underside of Rovers' bar after 37 minutes and the Pirates survived the ensuing scramble inside their box.

Rovers had found it hard to create clear openings of their own with Jeff Hughes firing an early attempt well off target while Lambert blasted a 30-yarder straight at keeper Jan Budtz, who had earlier enjoyed an escape when he made a complete hash of trying to punch away a Stuart Campbell corner but saw his blunder go unpunished.

Just before the break, Phillips was called into action again when he did well to parry a fierce shot from Deane Smalley.

Though Oldham had made the stronger finish to the first half, Rovers had the Latics rocking over the opening stages of the second period.

First Chris Lines broke clear from halfway leaving defender Reuben Hazell in his wake, but the midfielder dragged his shot from the edge of the box a couple of yards wide of the far post.

Seconds later though, the visitors made a breakthrough as Duffy fired home his eighth goal of the season.

Jeff Hughes fed the striker inside the box and the Scot checked inside his marker to set himself before smashing in a shot from 14 yards which Budtz could not prevent going into the net off the upright for Duffy's eighth goal of the season.

Lambert had a chance to double the lead after 50 minutes but although he caught his shot from 18 yards well, it flashed over the crossbar – and the Scouser went close again just before the hour when he sent a header wide from David Pipe's cross.

Then it was Rovers' turn to escape as Hughes blundered again, miscuing completely from 12 yards with the goal at his mercy.

Goalscorer Duffy was to play his part in Rovers' second goal after 63 minutes, for he was fouled from behind by Sean Gregan as he broke away from the defender wide of the penalty area.

Stuart Campbell pulled the free kick back towards Lambert, who miscued his shot but saw Anthony tuck the ball home from close range at the second attempt.

Latics boss John Sheridan reshuffled his strikeforce, taking off both Windass and Hughes in an effort to promt a recovery from his side.

But there was to be no way back as Rovers held firm to upset another of the play-off chasing sides on their own soil and see out a valuable win.

Oldham: Budtz, Hines, Hazell, Gregan, Golbourne (Eardley 59), Taylor, Allott, Whitaker, Smalley, Hughes (Liddell 75), Windass (Alessandra, 67). Subs (not used): Fleming, Maher.

Bristol Rovers: Phillips, R Green, Anthony, Elliott, Lescott, Pipe, Campbell, Lines, Hughes (Jacobson 64), Lambert (Disley 84), Duffy (Kuffour 79). Subs (not used): Hinton, St Louis-Hamilton.