Leicester 0, Oldham 0: 10 out of 10 for Latics
Reporter: TONY BUGBY at The Walkers Stadium
Date published: 09 February 2009
Sheridan’s men shrug off Fleming dismissal to frustrate leaders
THERE was drama and excitement - hardly the ingredients associated with a goalless draw - as Athletic held runaway Coca-Cola League One leaders Leicester City.
Saturday's live televised match at the Walkers Stadium contained thrills and spills for a crowd of 22,328 as well as the nation's armchair viewers as it proved a terrific advert for the third tier of English football.
It also provided further evidence that Athletic can live with the best teams in the division. What a pity they cannot reproduce this level of performance against the bottom-half clubs.
You often witness teams struggle against opponents who have been reduced numerically, and this was the case for Leicester after Athletic had ’keeper Greg Fleming sent off early in the second half.
Bizarrely, Athletic were more effective when they had 10 players. Before Fleming's dismissal they had rarely threatened the Foxes goal.
After Fleming’s sending-off Lee Hughes, Reuben Hazell and substitute Lewis Alessandra all had clear-cut chances which could have seen the visitors snatch victory against the odds.
Athletic, who had conceded seven goals in their previous two away games, defended far more resolutely to keep their first clean sheet on their travels since the Boxing Day win at Crewe.
It was a remarkable achievement bearing in mind they played almost half the match with striker Dean Windass in goal after manager John Sheridan again gambled not to have a goalkeeper on the substitutes’ bench.
The overall performance, especially given the circumstances, was a great pick-me-up after an erratic and inconsistent start to 2009.
Sheridan made two changes from the home goalless draw against Swindon Town. Neal Eardley replaced Kelvin Lomax at right-back while Kevin Maher was recalled for Danny Whitaker in the centre of midfield.
Maher helped to provide more defensive stability and impressed apart from his errant back pass which led to the dismissal of Fleming.
The other change was tactical with Chris Taylor and Deane Smalley swopping flanks.
Taylor went down looking for a penalty following an innocuous 12th-minute challenge from Michael Morrison as Athletic made a bright start against the Foxes, who went into the game unbeaten in 16 league matches, a sequence stretching back to late October.
Athletic rode their luck at times. Steve Howard latched on to a through ball and, after a lucky ricochet off Hazell, shot past Fleming, only to see his effort strike the inside of the post and fly across goal.
Matty Fryatt, the country’s 25-goal leading scorer, had a couple of decent attempts, while in the dying seconds of the first half Tom Cleverley burst through on goal and lifted the ball over Fleming, only to see left-back Scott Golbourne appear from nowhere to make a timely goalline clearance.
Athletic, who had failed to trouble Foxes ’keeper David Martin, survived until the break with their goal intact.
The chances of that remaining the case in the second period appeared remote when Fleming clearly tripped Fryatt, who latched on to Maher's shocking back-pass.
Normally Howard would have taken the spot kick, but Fryatt grabbed hold of the ball.
And, after a lengthy wait while Windass changed into Fleming's green shirt and donned his gloves, Fryatt pulled his penalty wide.
Windass was soon in action again, diving low to his right to scramble away a goalbound shot from Andy King. He later made an even better stop to deny Fryatt.
Leicester, despite their extra man, created next to nothing and it was Athletic who had the clearer chances in the remainder of the game.
Taylor went down again just short of the hour following a second challenge from Morrison, but this time there was definite contact.
Referee Oliver, possibly influenced by his earlier theatrical fall, promptly booked Taylor, which was a blatant miscarriage of justice.
Then, in the final 18 minutes, Hughes superbly evaded the offside trap to burst through on goal, only for ’keeper Martin to save superbly low to his right.
Hazell headed straight at the ’keeper from close range following a Maher free-kick, while at the death Alessandra, who had barely been on the pitch for 60 seconds, beat the offside trap but lost his footing with the goal in his sights.
Dean drops ’keeper hint to Capello!
INSTEAD of scoring goals, Athletic striker Dean Windass spent almost half of Saturday's game at Leicester saving them.
Manager John Sheridan revealed that full-back Kelvin Lomax had been Fleming's understudy in recent weeks.
But with Lomax dropped, Windass became a stand-in goalkeeper for the third time in his career.
Windass's first action between the sticks was to face Fryatt's penalty, which failed to hit the target.
"Is it classed as a save when he misses as I put him off by telling him he was going to miss?" quipped Windass.
"I have only let in one goal in three appearances in goal so I haven't done badly, have I?.”
The 39-year-old Windass was also asked whether he had found a way to extend his lengthy career even further.
He replied: "I could play in those goals until I am 69 years of age!
"I enjoyed every minute, even the stick from the crowd behind the goal, and if (Fabio) Capello was watching and needs a ’keeper for England this week, tell him I'm available."
Given the circumstances, Windass described it as a "fantastic point" at the runaway league leaders and was full of praise for his team-mates, who played for 44 minutes with 10 men.
He said: "Since I have arrived, we have struggled away from home, but we ought to have won.
"There were two stonewall penalties while Lee Hughes, Reuben Hazell and Lewis Alessandra all had chances in the second half.”
Boss Sheridan said: "Credit to the players for the character and attitude they showed. They were different class and should be receiving all the plaudits.
"We took the game to Leicester, even with 10 men. We tried to win it and had one or two great opportunities near the end.
"Considering we were down to 10 men and without a recognised ’keeper against the league leaders, to get a point is very satisfying."
Sheridan had no qualms about the sending-off, but believed Athletic ought to have been awarded a penalty when television replays showed Chris Taylor was clearly felled.
"It looked a certain penalty from where I was, but I was 70 yards away.
“I have heard from others it was a penalty, but it has gone and it is no use moaning and groaning and getting yourself into trouble."
Pictures by ALEX HANNAM
