We shot ourselves in the foot - Holden

DEAN Holden was left frustrated by Athletic's loss at lowly Yeovil, citing both his side's shortcomings and those of referee Lee Collins.

Having watched a replay of the disallowed last-gasp goal from Rhys Murphy, the caretaker boss was convinced the goal should have stood. Collins blew his whistle before the ball had even reached the head of substitute Murphy a couple of yards out, for what looked to be a harsh call that Conor Wilkinson was impeding goalkeeper Scott Loach.

“It was not a foul and the whistle went to his mouth before the goalkeeper was anywhere near it,” said Holden, who saw the second defeat of his temporary regime arrive through James Hayter's added-time effort.

After a tough outing on a large pitch at Port Vale four days earlier, Athletic were unable to find an extra gear after Carl Winchester handed his side the lead against the run of play, shortly before half-time.

The sending off of right-back Brian Wilson didn't help a late rearguard effort to save a point against the league’s bottom club.

“We probably didn't take the game to them as much in the second half to kill off the game. 0We shot ourselves in the foot with the two goals we conceded, but we take it on the chin.”

Holden's task now is to freshen his players for the Barnsley game — against the side managed by his old boss Lee Johnson.

"We've got a week to prepare properly,” Holden added. "It’s been a tough few days. We will have a good week, make sure the lads are well recovered and we will turn our attention to how we can beat them."