Luckless Latics miss their way

Danny Whitaker (left) challengess for possession.

Hudersfield 2, Oldham 0

Lee off sent off in cruel defeat

FULL marks for artistic impression, zero in the points column.

That is the crux of the matter for an Athletic side who bossed the game from start to finish against a side looking up to the Coca-Cola Championship rather than down to League Two.

Dave Penney has attracted plenty of stick from home fans in what has undoubtedly been a depressing season.

But his decision to switch to a 4-5-1 formation for the first half of this derby at the Galpharm Stadium so nearly paid great – and highly unexpected – dividends.

Make no mistake about it. Huddersfield, who consolidated their spot at the base of the play-offs thanks to two goals from an at-times hapless Theo Robinson, were given a football lesson by Athletic’s slick passing and movement.

Midfield trio Dale Stephens, Dean Furman and Danny Whitaker were all excellent and contributed to a showing which will go down as Athletic’s finest of the season.

It sounds perverse to brand a two-goal defeat as something of a triumph.

But had Pawel Abbott not wasted two gilt-edged chances in the first half, the second of which he crashed against the crossbar with the game goalless, it would have been a very different end result.

Lewis Guy, operating on the right wing and starting the game in blistering fashion, also headed over when well-placed to score his second goal in as many matches, while Whitaker nearly crafted the opening strike when he curled a shot narrowly over from the left of the area.

The opening goal could hardly have come more against the run of play. Seven minutes before half-time, Reuben Hazell’s stooping header from a Dean Heffernan cross hit the back of Stephens and fell perfectly for Robinson to lob past the recalled Darryl Flahavan.

The PA announcer summed up Athletic’s bad luck when he said, tongue lodged firmly in cheek: “I’m sure we all agree that Town fully deserve the half-time lead.”

The second period didn’t produce too many chances for either side with Athletic still in control, though Tom Eaves could have done better when slicing wide a volley inside the area.

By that point, Kieran Lee had been shown a red card for collecting two needless bookings.

And Huddersfield wrapped up the game on the break as the visitors committed numbers forward chasing an equaliser, Robinson rolling the ball home past Flahavan.

Such is life for Athletic this season.

From the off the visitors were by far the brighter side. Penney made three changes to his line-up, with Flahavan returning in goal after a bout of illness and Furman back from suspension to stiffen the midfield with Kirk Millar making way for Whitaker.

The first scoring chance came after five minutes, Chris Taylor producing a cross which Guy may have done better with as he leapt to meet it with his head in the centre of the penalty area.

Hazell then headed a Stephens corner into the arms of Alex Smithies and Abbott wasted a great chance when one-on-one with the Huddersfield ‘keeper, meekly chipping into his arms instead of going for power.

A minute later the ex-Huddersfield favourite came even closer, heading against the bar after Hazell had knocked back a deep Stephens free-kick.

Another Hazell header was caught by Smithies on the half-hour as Athletic continued to dominate and Whitaker’s neat effort which landed on the roof of the net could easily have gone in on another day.

As it was, Robinson was the first to strike with Town’s first effort on goal.

The second half started with Athletic again on top and just after Lee was given his first booking for a silly shirt-pull near the halfway line, Huddersfield boss Lee Clark paid the visitors a big compliment by switching to a 4-5-1 formation on the hour in a bid to get a grip on the midfield.

Athletic switched back to a 4–4-2 with Whitaker going out to the right wing and Guy moving up front alongside Abbott.

Then came Lee’s second booking for a foul on Heffernan to leave Athletic swimming against the tide.

To their credit, Penney’s men continued to press forward though Gary Roberts went close to extending the lead with a fierce shot which was palmed away by Flahavan.

Robinson ballooned a shot three miles over when presented with a good chance in the area before a clearly tired Abbott came off to a good reception from the home fans.

Substitute Eaves miscued his volley when given time and space at the far post a minute from the end of normal time.

And Robinson eased the nerves of jittery Huddersfield when he slotted home deep into injury time.

Athletic will need to get this disappointment out of their collective system quickly in time for the visit of Bristol Rovers to Boundary Park on Saturday.

But on this evidence, it is nigh-on inconceivable that a series of similar performances between now and the end of the season won’t produce enough points to maintain League One status.