Late killer punch stuns Latics

Last updated : 09 February 2017 By The Chairman

After the euphoria of the late winner at Chesterfield it was a case of a ‘taste of our own medicine’ as Franchise FC did the dirty on us. The late goal (five minutes after a four minute addition had been put on the board) robbed the Latics of a deserved point with would have lifted out of the bottom-four for the first time since 24th September.

Sheridan admitted, “It is football. We played on Saturday when we scored a really late goal and you have got to keep going to the final whistle. I don't want to keep looking for excuses. I don't think we played well, though defensively we looked really solid. Connor Ripley again didn't have too much to do, making one save. At the same time, we were not a threat really bar a couple of half-chances. It was a dogged performance, but I would like us to be a lot better on the ball. We defended when we had to against a good, footballing side. It was a killer punch at the end. People told me the referee played a minute and a half over. It's ridiculous if that is the case. I will ask him and they will all get together, writing it down and saying the same thing. It's a waste of time going in to tell the truth. It is a good goal for them to be fair. I'm just gutted we didn't get that point after a scrapping performance.”

“I would have been happy with a point to get us out of the bottom four. It was a good pitch to pass the ball on, but I would like us to be better going forward. I know we have a workmanlike side and we are hard to break down. But I want us to be adventurous and more positive attacking-wise and believe that we can cause teams problems. It is something I have to try to get into the team. They had a throw-in and we had nine men behind the ball. The nearest one to the lad who put the ball into the box was 15 yards away. You have to stop the ball coming into the box. It is young Aaron Holloway and he has to see that, switch on and the ball would have ended up being thrown back to one of the centre-halves or forced a throw into the box. We allowed the ball to come into the box and I am not picking people out. But it's simple - stop it coming into the box. We had the result on Saturday and I would have taken one win from the two games. We have two home games now and it's important if we can to get maximum points. Coventry is a big game, for them as well. We have to hit back now and I expect us to go for it. If we keep taking six points from every three games, we will be alright.”