Victory so sweet for Dickov

Paul Dickov and Lee Johnson

PAUL Dickov admitted he felt a special satisfaction at sinking his old employers.

The Doncaster Rovers manager made a triumphant return to SportsDirect.com Park, claiming a place in the third round of the FA Cup thanks to George Elokobi’s 86th-minute own goal.

For the former Athletic boss — whose last home game in charge was that memorable 3-2 win over Liverpool in the fourth round of this same competition — it was mission accomplished, as his men successfully stifled the home side.

“Oldham are a good team who play fast-flowing football and have pace up front, so it was important that we nullified them,” Dickov said.

“If we get the basics right, we have always got players in our team who will create chances.

"I’ll always have a lot of affection for Oldham because they gave me my first chance in management.

“As a player, it is always special to go back to your old club and it is the same for managers.

“But you want to win as well. I’m very pleased with the result.”

Dickov’s successor Lee Johnson was understandably less upbeat after this rare defeat, which leaves the club focusing solely on the push to try to secure a place in the top six of Sky Bet League One.

“I'm very disappointed to be out of the FA Cup,” Johnson said.

“Obviously, we wanted a good run in the competition and we saw it as an opportunity here, in front of our home fans, to advance.

“But it just goes to show you that in football, the minute you think you have cracked it, it comes back to bite you on the backside.

“Our players went out there and didn’t quite perform as they had been doing.

“We had two key players out, Mike Jones and James Wilson. They have been excellent for us over a period of time.

“It is disappointing when you have to make enforced changes.

“But our players and squad should be good enough. We did compete, but the two teams cancelled each other out and we were done by a smash-and-grab in the last few minutes.”

Johnson was also moved to credit the efforts of Doncaster, who backed up well after a midweek derby clash at Barnsley had ended 1-1.

He added: “They had a game on Tuesday and you might think they would struggle a bit on their legs, but they didn’t and were sharp and snuffed us out.

“But a lot of it was due to our giving the ball away a lot in the first half. There were not enough willing runners, something that we are normally so good at.

“For whatever reason, it wasn’t really there.

“The pressure was too sporadic and not sustained enough. I don’t want to get greedy — but I expect more.

“I would have taken a replay, the way the game was, and I’m not sure either side really deserved to win it.

“I’m bitterly disappointed, there is no doubting that.

“It is important for us, a cup run, and we have failed.”