Lowly Luton run up score

Last updated : 16 March 2008 By The Chairman

It was an off beat Latics that allowed lowly Luton Town to run up a 3-0 half time score, a score that was to remain for the duration of the game. Athletic had Reuben Hazell sent off and they struggled thereon. The Hatters were allowed to pick up their first win in 13 League games as the injury depleted visitors couldn't come to terms with the game.

Manager John Sheridan told Latics World, "The result was very disappointing as we'd got ourselves in a good position and there was an opportunity there today. What you could see most is the fact that we've got no strength in depth. People know they're going to play. We just didn't turn up. We couldn't string two passes together, the whole team was off the pace and there was nothing good about our game. It's a shame we didn't have players like Mark Crossley, Mark Allott and one or two others. We just weren't strong enough. The opportunity is still there but our performance today was nowhere near good enough for a play-off side."

"They were picking every ball up and getting to everything, while we didn't play forward when we should have. The last few performances before today have been good and that's the frustrating thing. We had too many key players missing and it showed. I felt sorry for Robert O'Donnell because he's a young keeper who's come in and done well today. He made three excellent saves. But I've never known a team give so many backpasses to a young goalkeeper on his debut and I raised that at half time."