Sheridan slams performance

Last updated : 05 March 2008 By The Chairman

A dismal John Sheridan slammed Athletic's performance, or lack of, after he saw his team throw away three points that were there for the taking, at home to Hartlepool. Michael Mackay scored the only goal of the game with a lob in the last quarter of an hour of a miserable game. It was a lack lustre performance and the second successive game where the crowd was under 4,000, a worrying thought for the Latics owners. Fans were up in arms after the gutless display with many vowing not to renew their season tickets after another disappointing display. One thing is for sure, the Latics continute to be consistently inconsistent. The home fans were expecting great things after some recent acceptable home results and after a 0-3 away win at Port Vale but the players let them down again.

Leon Constantine made his debut but he was not match fit, lacked passion and generally let himself and his new team-mates down. The debut promised so much yet delivered so little. John Sheridan told Latics World, "I was very disappointed with the goal because beforehand we had a chance to switch the play, which we tell the players to do. We didn't do it and then played the offside trap when there's no pressure on the ball, which we shouldn't be doing. It was a very frustrating game of little quality and I'm tired of saying that. We've not played well for three or four games and the standard of football is not good enough for my liking. People are doing things on the pitch that they think are right, but I'm telling you now they're not right and that's what cost us the game."

"The ball is the most important thing and if you don't take care of it you'll get found out. We're getting found out at the moment over the last few games, and that includes last Saturdays. I know we've won one or two games but I'm not happy with the way we're playing. Now myself and the players will have to work very hard because the performances we're producing at the moment won't get us anywhere."