Oldham boss Mellon sent off for headbutt before ten-man side stun Sheffield Wednesday in FA Cup

Oldham Athletic manager Micky Mellon was sent off for an apparent headbutt on Sheffield Wednesday midfielder Callum Slattery, yet his ten-man dugout side still progressed to the FA Cup second round with an extra-time winner against their League One opponents.

The incident occurred in the closing minutes of normal time during the FA Cup first round tie. Footage shows Mellon in a heated touchline exchange with Slattery before the Oldham manager appears to move his head towards the player, who falls to the floor. The altercation sparked a flare-up among players from both sides, and once order was restored the referee produced a straight red card for Mellon.

The match itself had been finely balanced before the flashpoint. Oldham, playing a division below Wednesday in League Two, had taken the lead in the 66th minute through Calum Kavanagh, only for David Kellor-Dunn to equalise for Wednesday eleven minutes later. The 1-1 scoreline held through ninety minutes, sending the tie into extra time.

With Mellon watching from the stands rather than the touchline, Oldham found the decisive goal in the additional period to seal a place in the second round — a notable scalp for the Latics against a side playing a tier above them.

The game also marked Dave Challinor’s first match in charge of Sheffield Wednesday, making the defeat a difficult start for the new manager. Wednesday will now face questions about their failure to convert superiority in personnel into a victory, while Mellon is likely to face an FA disciplinary charge following the headbutt incident.