Latics back in business

Northampton 0, Oldham Athletic 1

THERE comes a point when a blip turns into a bad run and a bad run becomes a slump.

Athletic have gone a fair way through that sequence over the last few weeks, but it’s amazing how one good result can change attitudes.

All of a sudden, having produced a fluent if sometimes frustrating performance to beat Northampton, they are looking ahead with renewed optimism and a surer sense that finishing in the top six is firmly within their compass.

Football is an up-and-down world — heroes turn to villains in the blink of an eye — but there was much to like about Athletic’s hard-earned win.

Northampton, who boasted League One’s only unbeaten home record, were out-manoeuvred just about everywhere as John Sheridan’s men controlled long periods of the game.

Athletic were quicker, slicker, made far more chances and had stand-out individuals such as strong centre-halves Reuben Hazell and Stefan Stam — both selected ahead of Sean Gregan — tidy midfield man Kevin Maher and exciting winger Chris Taylor.

For a while they were like the classic Morecambe and Wise sketch where Eric tries to perform Grieg’s Piano Concerto . . . playing all the right notes, but not necessarily in the right order.

Athletic had nothing to show for tons of possession, but Andy Liddell’s decisive penalty was the least they deserved.

The one sour note came in injury time when striker Lee Hughes was harshly sent off for a second bookable offence.

Hughes, unquestionably, collected a pointless yellow card for kicking the ball away in the first half. He later committed a few niggly fouls. But the second booking was rough as Northampton’s Kyle Walker over-reacted to a minor touch.

Confusion then reined as Hughes didn’t see referee Paul Taylor brandishing his cards. As a result, he took at least 30 seconds to leave the pitch.

It wasn’t the most edifying of spectacles, but Athletic had little time to hang on before clinching their victory.

Back on the plus side, Darren Byfield made a lively debut up front and Athletic cut out many of the errors which have been blighting them in defence.

They ended a run of three league away defeats and, dare I say it, maybe even showed a hint of siege mentality after last week’s bust-up between senior club officials.

Athletic had suffered a blow within the first minute when Deane Smalley picked up an injury while running at Northampton’s back four.

The youngster eventually made way for Liddell, but his side weren’t disrupted as they carved out a half-chance from which Hughes tested ’keeper Frank Fielding.

Mark Crossley was also in the action with a smart save from Alex Dyer, but Athletic had made the brighter start.

Hughes had a goal ruled out for offside, Taylor missed Liddell’s cross by a matter of inches and the four men across midfield began to take a grip.

Maher in particular was the dominant force, and his crossfield ball nearly led to one of the finest individual goals of the season.

Taylor showed an electrifying burst of pace to leave three defenders in his wake and, having sprinted 40 yards, he was only denied by a deflection on his shot.

Ryan Gilligan went close for Northampton, but Hughes saw another effort disallowed for offside before earning that costly first booking.

And though Northampton came back into it with possession football, they had a massive escape before half-time when Danny Jones set up Hughes, who fired against the post from six yards.

Byfield then sent a close-range header off target before finding space in the box and drawing a near-post save from Fielding.

They were two good chances for the new arrival, who got more involved in the match the longer it went on.

Northampton were lifted by a double substitution, but they should have gone behind after 68 minutes as Byfield dragged wide with Hughes standing unmarked in a better position.

Leon Constantine missed with the hosts’ first effort of the second half but, at long last, Athletic made their pressure count in the game’s final quarter.

The adventure of left-back Jones played its part as he delivered a cross which Hughes hunted down and converted into a goalscoring opportunity.

His darts, twists and turns were ended by Gilligan’s blatant trip and Liddell — cool as ever when faced with a penalty — sent Fielding the wrong way.

Northampton chucked the kitchen sink into staging a comeback, but little was created and not even the sight of Fielding going up for a corner could rattle Athletic.

It was just a shame to end with such chaotic scenes as Hughes fell victim to a soft second yellow.