Albion's band of multi-taskers knows no bounds.

Joel Lynch has occupied every position along the back four, Kerry Mayo has played at right-back for the first time in his long, one-club career.

In fact, practically every player within a squad relatively small in number can operate in at least two different positions and often three or four.

Two more players demonstrated their adaptability to help Albion cope with the absences of their find of the season (Dean Cox), their most natural defender (Adam Hinshelwood) and Lynch, who joined them on the sidelines with a knee injury at half-time.

Prior to the loss of Lynch, Dean Wilkins was going to switch Sam Rents from left-back to central midfield.

Instead he ended up at right-back, where we did an effective job of stifling Albion's first-half tormentor Chris Taylor.

Andrew Whing moved inside to partner the fit-again Guy Butters, who more than makes up for a lack of pace with his uncanny knack of being in the right place at the right time to head or boot the ball out of harm's way.

The on-loan Whing was also outstanding in the second half as Albion recovered to earn a point which was much better for them than for Oldham.

Whing said: "At Coventry Micky Adams had a little belief that I could play centre half and I played there quite a lot last year. I even played there against Brighton at Withdean, so I am capable of slotting in if the gaffer needs me.

"The lads around me were fantastic. Butts is a great character and he is a very good defender.

"Sam Rents was fantastic in the second half as well, and Kerry Mayo.

"In the first half we didn't really come out of the traps and Oldham are no mugs. They are a really good team, fifth in the League (fourth now) and they played some good football.

"But we weren't at the races and we paid the price with the goal. It could have been more but we dug in and in the second half the character was fantastic."

No wonder Wilkins described it as Albion's best result of the season.

They were, by his own admission, "completely battered" in the opening 45 minutes.

Oldham, also missing two key men in 13-goal Chris Porter (knee) and midfielder Richie Wellens (suspended), could have been out of sight.

Paul Warne gave the Latics an 18th-minute lead, turning with his back to goal on a dink into the box from Andy Liddell to slot a left-foot shot across Wayne Henderson into the opposite corner from eight yards. There were several other close shaves for the Seagulls, notably when Taylor, a lively left winger, struck the base of a post after possession had been conceded cheaply for the umpteenth time.

Wilkins, as is his wont, changed the system once Albion were behind, Jake Robinson drifting from the middle out to the right in an attempt to get hold of the ball more.

It worked to a degree and the performance improved markedly after the break as Robinson had a close range effort ruled out for offside, although Oldham will be kicking themselves over the equaliser.

Two defenders seemed to get in each other's way from a harmless looking free-kick by Rents.

The ball landed in space behind them for Dean Hammond to hook in his ninth of the season and third in two games.

Even then, with Albion in the ascendency, Oldham should have won.

Chris Hall, deputising for Porter, thumped a header against the bar and, in the third and final minute of stoppage time, substitute Matty Wolfenden headed over when well-placed.

Wilkins said: "It was an enormous game. Oldham have been playing well and picking up a lot of points, we have been doing likewise.

"I keep on saying we are young and our inexperience showed massively at times in the first half.

"Even after they scored I said to Dean (assistant Dean White) I just hope we can get in 1-0 down to calm things down and send them out with a plan to turn the game around and I think the plan worked.

"We have done it without people who have been playing regularly. I quite enjoy the challenge, in many ways, of still trying to get a result.

"I kind of relish that, although I wouldn't want any more injuries to crop up. Of course it's a worry. I don't know the extent of the damage to Joel, we'll just have to wait and see."

Cox's absence was felt most keenly. His replacement, Dean Bowditch, understandably looked rusty and short of fitness on his first Albion start after a month out with groin trouble.

The on-loan Ipswich front man should have equalised with a header just before half-time, the sort of chance he would surely have taken if sharper.

Richard Carpenter made an important contribution in the second half reshuffle and Joe Gatting, on for Bowditch, almost pinched the points with a late shot which forced Oldham keeper Les Pogliacomi into a diving deflection.

Everybody is chipping in, which bodes well for the rest of the season as injuries begin to bite. Thank goodness for all those multi-taskers.

ALBION (4-4-2): Wayne Henderson (GK), Andrew Whing (RB), Joel Lynch (CB), Guy Butters (CB), Sam Rents (LB), Tommy Fraser (RM), Kerry Mayo (CM), Dean Hammond (CM), Dean Bowditch (LM), Alex Revell (CF), Jake Robinson (CF). Subs: Richard Carpenter (for Lynch, 46), Joe Gatting (for Bowditch, 66), Michel Kuipers, Tommy Elphick, Alistair John.

OLDHAM ATHLETIC (4-4-2): Les Pogliacomi (GK), Neal Eardley (RB), Will Haining (CB), Sean Gregan (CB), Simon Charlton (LB), Andy Liddell (RM), Gary McDonald (CM), Craig Rocastle (CM), Chris Taylor (LM), Chris Hall (CF), Paul Warne (CF).

Subs: Paul Edwards (for Rocastle, 88), Matty Wolfenden (for Liddell, 88), Tomasz Cywka (for McDonald, 88), Adam Legzdins, Neil Wood.