Latics boss points finger after Trophy shoot-out agony

Photo: PICTURE: ALAN HOWARTH

pain game . . . manager Lee Johnson salutes the fans after Latics were beaten on penalties in the Northern area semi-final of the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy last night.

FAILINGS on his team’s part and by referee Kevin Wright were blamed by manager Lee Johnson as Athletic agonisingly slipped out of the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy in a penalty shoot-out.

Chesterfield made it into the Northern section final after a 6-5 shoot-out win at Boundary Park following a 1-1 final-whistle score.

Johnson felt Wright could have awarded his side two penalties during the game — when Jonson Clarke-Harris fell under a challenge from Ian Evatt, and at the death in added time, when Matteo Lanzoni’s cross appeared to be handled by Spireites defender Ritchie Humphreys.

But Johnson believes his team should have done more to win without the need for a shoot-out.

“It’s gut wrenching,” he said Johnson “It was a good game and I feel we dominated possession in the second half. Our play was decent up to a point - then we had a couple of chances we didn’t quite finish.

“It was a tough game but a good one. I was pleased everyone turned out and just so sorry we couldn’t send them home with the team in the next round.”

Johnson wants his team back on track quickly: Athletic face a league game at Brentford on Saturday and follow that with an FA Cup second-round replay at Mansfield three days later.

“We can’t be too deflated,” added Johnson. “We have a big game on Saturday and another on Tuesday.

“We have to make sure we bounce back, starting now.”