THE fact Rovers could put in such contrasting performances in the two halves was something of a headscratcher.

As was how despite battling back from a disastrous first-half showing in the end they would be disappointed to only take a point which actually moved them closer to the automatic promotion spots.

But the results of those elsewhere and the missed opportunity that meant shouldn't detract from a rousing second half showing, nor the frailties Rovers showed in the first period in they lacked any urgency and were both out-thought, and fought, by the visitors who were backed by a raucous away following.

Opportunity knocked when Adam Armstrong drew Rovers level but try as they might, they couldn't quite scale the mountain they had given themselves to climb.

Rovers' first-half showings are now becoming something of a concern. As is the fact they have conceded the opening goal in 11 of their 31 matches and for the second successive week trailed 2-0 at the break.

On 16 occasions they have failed to find the back of the net in the opening half and once again they relied on a second half rally to draw themselves level. On seven occasions they have gone in to the dressing room trailing.

However, the introduction of a fearless and tenacious Lewis Travis, and the extra movement provided by Adam Armstrong in attack, helped swing the ascendancy of the game in their favour.

It took Rovers around 15 minutes of the second period to get used to the formation switch, but with Oldham having seemingly given up trying to play through midfield which had proven their strength in the first-half, the hosts seized the initiative.

Having seeing an effort saved by Johnny Placide from a 30 yard effort Mulgrew’s eyes will have lit up moments later when Travis was felled on the edge of the box. The skipper could barely have picked a better spot from which to place a free-kick which he duly curled around the wall and in with terrific precision.

That lifted the home crowd, with Rovers waiting just eight minutes for a leveller. Danny Graham allowed the ball to run free for Bradley Dack who got to the byline and cut the ball back for Armstrong to sweep home.

That set up a grandstand finish with 19 minutes to play, and despite spending the final eight of those playing against 10 men, as well as the same number in stoppage time, Rovers couldn’t find that crucial winner.

That was despite the best attempts of Armstrong who saw a header and then 25 yard rasping drive go narrowly wide, while Dack and Jack Payne also went close to a winner.

But in the end they were left to rue the goals they conceded in the first half. Both the visitors’ goals owed much to the individual quality of Duckens Nazon, but naive Rovers defending.

The first saw him collect a long punt from goalkeeper Placide, twice beating Nyambe before slotting under David Raya.

And while the Spanish stopper could get a hand to his effort seven minutes before the break, he couldn’t keep it out as the striker ran at Mulgrew before unleashing an effort in to the bottom corner.

Rovers were all at sea in the first-half, carved open at times, Oldham getting to their back four too easily on many an occasions, and deserving of their advantage.

So while there was disappointment comes the final whistle, things could certainly have been worse given the start in which they made. A third of the season remains and one thing is for sure, the Rovers fans will have been put through the wringer come the end of it.