THIS uninspiring showing proved the team that Lee is building is very much a work in progress rather than a work of art.

The introduction of Charlie Daniels brought to nine the number of new faces in the Cherries starting line-up from last season.

And while the defender, a deadline-day loan signing from Leyton Orient, deservedly claimed the man-of-the-match plaudits, competition was thin on the ground.

A largely forgettable contest had started encouragingly for Cherries when Marc Pugh went close to opening the scoring inside three minutes.

But after Pugh had side-footed wide when well placed, Cherries supporters then had to wait until injury-time for their team’s next meaningful chance.

It came courtesy of substitute Charlie Sheringham, the young striker’s rasping volley rattling the crossbar and temporarily relieving the tedium.

Chances were also at a premium for the visitors who had arrived at the Seward Stadium boasting an impressive goal tally of 13 from their previous five league games.

However, Paul Dickov’s men were denied a 14th by the game’s only real talking point on the stroke of half-time, much to the chagrin of their manager.

A frantic passage of play ended with a combination of Steve Cook and Darryl Flahavan managing to claw off the line an angled drive from Dean Furman.

Oldham players were convinced the ball had crossed the line and a number of unlikely witnesses in the Steve Fletcher Stand backed up their case.

Estimates ranging from one foot to a mile, posted by Cherries supporters on social networking sites and message board forums, suggested the Latics had been hard done by.

Referee Andy D’Urso and his assistant in front of the East Stand, who was probably unsighted, waved away Oldham’s protestations, much to the relief of Cherries.

“Everybody saw it and everybody said it was a goal,” said Latics boss Dickov at his post-match press conference. “We should be standing here talking about a 1-0 victory.

“I think goalline technology should come in but I also think the officials have got to get the big decisions right and it didn’t happen.”

Dickov, who expressed his reservations about a “difficult” pitch, added: “I was disappointed we didn’t win because I felt we deserved to, without being anywhere near our best going forward. Apart from the first five minutes, I thought we were the better team.”

Unfortunately, Cherries boss Lee Bradbury had not had an opportunity to review the incident before he addressed the media: “It was probably their best chance, one of their only chances. I wasn’t sure whether it went in because I haven’t looked at the DVD.”

Bradbury did acknowledge that much of the credit for Cherries’ blunt display should have gone to the visitors, whose central defender Jean Yves Mvoto was head and shoulders the star man on the pitch.

“I have got mixed emotions really,” said Bradbury. “I think we can play better but, at the same time, it was a good, professional job and I thought we looked organised and hard to break down. It was a good point because Oldham are a decent side who are hard to beat.

“I know we have got another gear going forward and can cause problems. We didn’t do that as much as I would have liked but Oldham worked hard, were organised and made it difficult for us.”

Cherries rarely looked likely to extend to four their run of league victories, while the Latics also appeared destined not to score. As defences dominated for long periods, it seemed the two teams were never going to make a breakthrough in a month of Sundays.

Bradbury again opted to start a home game with Wes Thomas operating as a lone striker and Wes Fogden tucked in just behind. But the formation that has served Cherries so well in recent weeks was found wanting.

For all his industry, Fogden was nowhere near close enough to Thomas throughout, while Cherries’ creative midfield also had an off day.

One of the biggest pluses for Bradbury would have been seeing Cherries keep a third clean sheet in the league in succession. Skipper Adam Barrett and Brighton loan star Cook were solid in central defence, while Daniels and Simon Francis ensured goalkeeper Flahavan would be well protected.

And while Oldham’s experienced striker Shefki Kuqi may have arrived in Dorset bidding to register his 13th goal of the season, the big Finn was restricted to a couple of half-chances.

In truth, Cherries looked more threatening after Sheringham’s arrival had enlivened proceedings, the striker coming on minutes after a chorus from the North Stand had urged Bradbury to “give us a sub”.

And after Harry Arter had earlier ballooned a shot over the top and Daniels had seen a shot saved by Alex Cisak, the Oldham goalkeeper was beaten all ends up by Sheringham’s thunderbolt, only for the woodwork to ensure justice was probably done.

Cherries (4-4-1-1): Flahavan 6, Francis 6, Cook 7, Barrett 6.5, Daniels 8, Pugh 6, Arter 5.5, Gregory 5.5, Malone 6, Fogden 5.5 (Sheringham, 72), Thomas 6 (Fletcher, 87).

Unused subs: Purches, Cooper, Jalal (g/k).

Latics (4-4-1-1): Cisak, Lee, Yves Mvoto, Diamond, Black, Scapuzzi (Morias, 66), Furman, Wesolowski, Taylor (Adeyemi, 20), Simpson (Smith, 85), Kuqi.

Unused subs: Clarke, Bouzanis (g/k).

Booked: Morias.

Referee: Andy D’Urso (Essex).

Attendance: 5,478 (including 262 away supporters).