LJ: It could be a reality check

LEFT to salvage what meaning he could manage from the wreckage, Athletic manager Lee Johnson was quickly out of the dressing room after the game to offer a wholehearted apology to all fans of the club.

The shocking 4-0 defeat to Yeovil gave his under-pressure father Gary a crucial three points ahead of their big FA Cup tie at home to Accrington tomorrow night, with a home game against Manchester United in round three the glittering prize.

Athletic were dumped out of that competition on home soil by Doncaster the previous week.

But that defeat pales compared to the weight of this four-goal hammering.

It could have been worse, too, as the visitors wasted several good chances to embellish the lead in the second half.

“All I can do as a manager of a football club is to apologise to our supporters for that performance,” said Lee Johnson.

“Some players have let us down on the day.

“Hopefully, it was a one-off. Some of the traits were very worrying.

“What can I do more than apologise? Of course, we haven’t set them out to play like that.

“We lost Jonathan Forte before the game and of course, Liam Kelly.

“But that was still a very strong, experienced team we put out.

“I am very disappointed for multiple reasons.

“If there was a man-of-the-match, it would have to go to the fans.

“They had plenty more chances and probably could have come away with a better score line.

“I don't know what has happened. We will have to assess it, as we always do.

“We had a good, sharp week after the Doncaster disappointment. Everything was right. It could be a reality check.

“I wanted to win that game more than anything, because it would really have set us up.

“Fair play to them. Fair play to my dad for what he did.

“Their team to a man was better than ours.”

Johnson now has the task of picking a side resolute enough to produce some sort of reaction at MK Dons on Saturday.

Before that, though, he says everyone — including himself — would benefit from self-examination.

“It was self-inflicted,” he added. “Sometimes that happens in a season and you can’t mask over it. We have to go back to basics now, back to the drawing board, and go from a position of strength.

“I’ve got to pick a team for the next game I think will at least dig in and run about, because a couple threw the towel in and that was the biggest disappointment for me.

“Surprisingly, none of the players apologised to us. That’s something I think should be done.

“We are at a stage where I was thinking in the last 10 minutes, ‘I have to pick a team for MK Dons’.

“We go to a very difficult place now and if we turn up like that, it will be 10-0.

“They have to have the pride to want to play for the jersey, the fans, myself and their own team-mates.

“Here, we were too disjointed all over the pitch due to some weak characters on the day.

“I don't think I have said that once in my tenure yet. But people have to look in the mirror after this one — including myself.”

Gary Johnson, meanwhile, was left delighted with the efforts of his own side.

“It was a super performance from us,” he said. “They haven’t lost many at home this season so we had to be strong and aggressive.

“We have set the standard on and off the ball. We had them under pressure straight away and were very clinical.

“It is nice to create six or seven good chances in a game and this is a very important three points for us.

“When Oldham play they really play and that is why they are where they are in the league.

“It was a good day for us and an off-day for Oldham.

“Lee will be very disappointed. He is the same as me, as he hates losing and thinks the world is against him.

“But Oldham are up there for a reason and he will turn it back around.”