Saints and Oldham played out a frustrating goalless draw at St. Mary's.

The hosts couldn't break down a battling visiting side who showed little willingness to play for anything more than the point that they earned.

Alan Pardew's side did their best to rouse a match which was largely lifeless and broken up by a series of stops in play that did nothing to help the patience shown by the home side as they tried to open up the resilient Latics, who gave an added boost to their survival chances.

Saints: Davis, Otsemobor, Fonte, Seaborne, Harding, Puncheon, Hammond, Wotton (James 46) (Connolly 72), Lallana, Barnard (Papa Waigo 65), Lambert. Subs (not used): Bialkowski, Mills, Perry, Antonio.

Oldham: Flahavan, Lee, Hazell, Gregan, Marrow, Smalley, Furman (Stephens 46), Worthington, Black, Guy (Whittaker 73), Abbott (Eaves 62). Subs (not used): Brill, Aljofree, Lomax, Miller.

Referee: Mr. K. Wright (Cambridgeshire)

Attendance: 18, 366 (including 229 away)

Paul Wotton replaced the suspended Morgan Schneiderlin in midfield, whilst Lee Barnard was rewarded with a starting role after scoring the winner at Yeovil on Saturday.

Oldham got things underway attacking the Chapel End in their changed strip of navy blue with fetching orange trim on a mild evening at St. Mary's.

A steady opening from the hosts saw Puncheon at the heart of the early forays, flashing a header wide before creating the first clear opportunity when his cross was knocked back into the area by Lambert into the path of the on-rushing Dean Hammond, who put narrowly over from inside the area.

On 9 minutes Barnard was hauled to the ground under a challenge from Sean Gregan supplying Lambert with his first sight of goal from distance. The striker smashed a low dipping shot towards the bottom right which 'keeper Daryl Flahavan pushed far enough away to thwart the José Fonte who was closing in on the Latics stopper.

Undeterred by a series of decisions appearing to go against them, Saints continued to look dangerous in attack in air and on the ground, but couldn't quite force a way through despite the free flowing movement from every forward player in a red and white shirt.

Hammond tested Flahavan with a looping effort just past the half hour mark and some further shaky defending from the visitors eventually led to Dan Harding firing over from distance, as clear chances remained elusive.

The Lancashire side seemed in no hurry to clear their lines with Pawel Abbott isolated on his own inside Saints' half for much of the play and like the home side were unable to keep the ball for too long.

And a fairly low key half ended with Harding going into the book for a foul on Lewis Guy as neither side were unable to force an advantage.

Half Time: Saints 0-0 Oldham Athletic

At the break both sides made changes as Alan Pardew switched Paul Wotton for Lloyd James whilst Oldham brought on Dale Stephens in place of Dean Furman.

As Saints tried to raise the tempo, they were denied by last ditch defending as Barnard was kept out by Flahavan before Lallana saw his low shot blocked after Lambert had created space in the right.

In the 55th minute the hosts looked to have had a good claim for a penalty turned down when Reuben Hazell handled a loose ball, but the shouts from all corners of the ground fell on deaf ears of the match official.

The St. Mary's crowd roared into action as the hosts started to turn the screw, with Lambert kept out by a diving save from the 'keeper.

On 62 the visitors replaced Abbott, who was cautioned for his slow exit off the field as Tom Eaves entered the fray.

Saints responded three minutes later with the introduction of Papa Waigo for Barnard as Alan Pardew's men stepped up their efforts in the final third.

Davis made a vital save just shy of 70 minutes as the visitors burst forward on the break through Eaves. The forward's low shot was saved by the Saints number one who got enough on the block to deny Alex Marrow following in.

At the other end, Puncheon drew a smart one handed save from Flahavan and then Seaborne's header from a corner was pushed out from underneath the crossbar.

Half time substitute James was then withdrawn in favour of David Connolly which preceded Oldham final switch of Danny Whittaker coming on in place of Lewis Guy.

Puncheon saw a free-kick from the right of the area flash wide of the near post as inside the final quarter of an hour Saints threw caution to the wind with Puncheon denied again by the 'keeper who also saved Otsemobor's headed follow up.

A Fonte header was nodded off the line from a corner, but it was almost made worse on the break as Deane Smalley got a shot in from the right, which had Davis not held on to would surely have spelt danger with two Blue shirts closing in.

The gargantuan efforts from the last few games needed to be matched in the closing stages, but the ball wouldn't drop for Saints with Lambert seeing a header cleared off the line.

In four minutes of additional time the hosts couldn't have done any more with every single player in the Blues' half including Davis, but the breakthrough just wouldn't arrive.

Full Time: Saints 0-0 Oldham Athletic