IT’S always quiet ones you have to watch out for.

So it proved last night as Town’s game with Oldham sparked into life late on, but still ended in stalemate.

For the majority of the night it was a turgid affair, punctuated only by pockets of quality.

The play was lifeless and devoid of the inspiration that has been enjoyed by many so far this season at the County Ground.

Perhaps the game’s share of quality was saved for the goals scored from open play by either side.

The first, James Dayton’s opener, was thunderbolt from 30 yards.

Then, with the game petering out in the second half, Andy Williams resuscitated the night with another fierce drive to give Town the lead for the first time.

However those moments of quality were the exclamation points around more standard football grammar.

Jonathan Obika again scored from a set-piece and Oldham substitute Amari Morgan-Smith did likewise after a scramble that followed a free-kick.

Jack Stephens was again absent from Swindon’s starting XI as boss Mark Cooper started with the same team that came from a goal down to beat Bradford in Yorkshire on Saturday. Obika started his first game at the County Ground since 2011.

Michael Smith, looking to end his barren run since bagging two in two at the start of the season, had the game’s first chance.

Massimo Luongo and Nathan Byrne fashioned the opening, Luongo feeding Byrne down the right. The wing-back found the striker on the edge of the six yard box but he side-footed wide and, in truth, should have done a lot better.

After that spark the game meandered, neither side offering any threat in possession or on the break.

Oldham looked to work the channels either side of Swindon’s three central defenders regularly, but it provided no joy.

Unsurprisingly, the opener came after a set-piece, but perhaps not in the way expected.

It was Oldham who got it, scoring with a bolt from the blue that seemed to catch everyone by surprise. Joseph Mills’ short free-kick was rolled to James Dayton, who unleashed a drive from at least 30 yards which left Wes Foderingham stranded.

The visitors were not in front for long though. Byrne’s corner was flicked on by Jordan Turnbull and Obika was on hand to turn in from close range, the former Tottenham man’s third in just two games, all from a combined distance of less than 18 yards.

A game that really had not looked as if would provide much in the way of entertainment suddenly found itself with a two goals but back to all square.

After that flurry of action, the game settled back into the dull rhythm. Unlike much of Town’s play at home this season their play drifted without much of a pattern.

Oldham continued to press their hosts high up the pitch with the pacy Dominic Poleon seemingly tethered to Yaser Kasim when the Iraqi had the ball. It prevented Town from playing with any consistency, offering a threat only in fits and starts.

The Latics started the second half on the front foot, enjoying a spell of pressure in the Town half but the back three dealt with it efficiently and were hardly troubled.

Going forward, the Robins continued to struggle to put together any meaningful phases of play. George Elokobi was at his muscular best in defence for the Latics but, in truth, he did not have to be.

Swindon were doing very little to get the County Ground off their seats.

If an area of Town’s performance deserved praise it was the defence.

Nathan Thompson and his pair of wider marshals nullified much of Oldham approach work and stayed compact under the barrage coming from either flank.

All of the play that fans at the County Ground have become accustomed to this season was just ever so slightly off. Kasim over-hit passes, Luongo’s surges were halted and Swindon were not camping out in the visitors’ half.

Then that all changed, as game’s second moment of quality from Williams looked to have given Town all three points.

Fed in by Byrne, Williams powered in from an awkward angle to lift the home fans out of their seats.

Town’s lead was not long-lasting, as from then on it was end to end stuff. Oldham got a free-kick from a straight angle which after a scramble found its way to Morgan-Smith who poked home from close range.

Both sides went in search of three points with half chances coming for both teams but none that told.

From a forgettable game Town might consider it a good point as Oldham were the first side to throttle Cooper’s men.