Don’t dwell on Tykes defeat - Kean

Photo: Alan Howarth

JAKE KEAN . . . the ’keeper is confident Athletic can still reach a place in the Sky Bet League One play-offs.

NEW Athletic goalkeeper Jake Kean has urged his team-mates to shrug off the disappointment of defeat at Barnsley by making amends this weekend.

Beaten 1-0 in a dull and frustrating game on Tuesday, Athletic squandered the chance to climb to fifth place - the play-offs zone.

But Kean, who has moved to Oldham from Blackburn Rovers on loan until the end of the season, remains confident Athletic can win a place in the top six providing they learn from their mistakes — starting at Scunthorpe on Saturday.

Of the Tykes defeat, Kean said: “It wasn’t pretty by any stretch of the imagination. They knew what they had to do against us and did it well. They weren’t a very good ball-playing side and all they did was boot the ball and get into a fight with the lads.

“It’s disappointing we missed a chance to move up the table, but Saturday is another game. We take the defeat and learn from it, but it can’t play on our mind with games coming up thick and fast. There are so many points to play for.”

Kean has impressed during his short time with Athletic and is clearly relishing the challenge after a frustrating spell at Ewood Park.

He said: “I am excited to be at Oldham until the end of the season and I am enjoying playing.

“Football is football and while everyone wants to play at as high a level as they can, I chose to come here. Sitting on the bench in the Championship didn’t appeal to me. This was the right decision.”