Cotterill: A game of fine margins

Steve Cotterill feels Bristol City's 1-0 win over Oldham was decided by the finest of margins, thanks to a free kick conceived in pre-season.

It was during a pre-season trip to southern Africa that the City boss first worked on the slick move that saw Wade Elliott deliver the ball low into the box and Aaron Wilbrahm direct it first time into the path of Kieran Agard, who fired low past Oldham goalkeeper Paul Rachubka. With their closest rivals all slipping up, it was a big day for the League One leaders, who were pushed all the way by an enterprising Oldham side, managed by former Ashton Gate favourite Lee Johnson. Cotterill said: "We got so much out of our Botswana trip and it was there that we first practiced the free-kick. "We hadn't used it before because it has to be from a certain position, but we have worked on it more times than I could mention. "It was a game decided by small margins. Oldham were on a great run so they had to be doing something right and we knew it would be a tough test. "For the opening 25 minutes I thought we were outstanding. They had the better of the last 10 minutes of the first half, but by then we could have been four-up. "After taking the lead we sat back a bit and concentrated on defending it. "Our fans got right behind the team in the effort to keep a clean sheet and Frank Fielding has made one outstanding save." Agard almost scored an audacious second with a chip from 50 yards after 61 minutes as City stretched their unbeaten start to the season to 16 games. Joe Bryan hit the top of the crossbar with an eighth-minute cross, Aden Flint twice went close with headers from corners and Agard forced a fine save from Rachubka before volleying over when he might have scored. But Oldham were always a threat as a fast, open contest developed with the result in doubt right to the final whistle. Fielding had to react smartly to beat away a fierce shot from substitute Dominic Poleon 15 minutes from time. Johnson was disappointed not to take something from the game. "We wanted to come and perform against a big club and we did that up to a point," he said. "Our decision-making was not as good as it might have been around their penalty area and we have switched off for the free-kick, even though it was well-worked. "I was unhappy that a foul was given, especially as one of our lads had been scythed down just beforehand with nothing given. "But I'm not blaming the ref because we should have defended the free-kick better. "I have a young group of players who need to learn from games like this. But there is right a way to lose and I feel that was the case with us here." Breaking news, transfer gossip, line ups and goal alerts from your football club - delivered direct to your mobile. Sign up for Sky Sports Alerts