OLDHAM Athletic boss John Sheridan admitted his side were indebted to goalkeeper Connor Ripley for keeping Swindon Town at bay in the first half of Saturday’s goalless draw between two sides fighting for their League One survival.

Town produced their best 45 minutes for some time as they looked to end a five-match losing run and climb out of the relegation zone, laying siege to the Latics goal early on at the County Ground.

Luke Williams’ side peppered their opponents with 17 shots before half-time, with six of those on target, and Oldham chief Sheridan was grateful for the heroics of Ripley between the sticks for frustrating the home side.

“It was a battle. I don’t think we played well in the first half and I was disappointed with the way we played,” said Sheridan.

“Connor made some good saves. We looked a bit flat and stood off them too much and Connor kept us in the game, even though I felt we had the best chance through Rob (Hunt).

“I thought we played a lot better in the second half. I just felt we had to be braver and get on the ball a bit more and I thought we did that.

“I wasn’t happy with them (at half-time) and I told them.

“I don’t think we were on the front foot enough, we stood off them too much, and we saw the difference when we got in and around them, we were winning balls in the middle of the park and breaking.”

The draw continues Oldham’s own strong survival bid and they have now suffered just one defeat in the last five games to stay a point clear of the bottom four.

Sheridan expects the relegation scrap to go right to the wire but is pleased with the turnaround he has seen from his side in recent weeks.

Sheridan added: “Obviously the main thing was to get something from the game. I would have liked to have won but Swindon don’t gain any ground on us and we’ll take a point and move on.

“It’s going to be tight and if we can pick up a point away from home and are winning at home, I will take that all day long.

“It was a tough game because Swindon had a good team. They have got some good footballers in the side and they pass it around well and can cause you problems.

“We defended really well as a team and (Peter) Clarke’s block at the end was tremendous, so we will take the point and move on.”