Lapse costly for sloppy Latics

Photo: Alan Howarth

HEAD MASTER . . . Chris Taylor connects with a diving header, only to see the effort clawed away by Southampton ’keeper Kelvin Davis.

2 More Image(s) In Gallery

Southampton 2, Athletic 1
ATHLETIC were cast as sinners rather than Saints once again as disastrous errors cost the team a chance of points at the St Mary’s Stadium.

Manager Paul Dickov was, and remains, a legend in the shirt of Manchester City.

And his face will soon be turning a similar shade of blue if his side continue defending so shabbily at vital times.

Mark your men, clear your lines, keep things simple.

You wouldn’t think these instructions were too complex for a team to keep at the forefront of its collective mind — especially seeing as how Athletic should have heeded their lesson already, from numerous similar occasions this season.

Alas, when Jose Fonte rose to meet Adam Lallana’s swinging right-wing free-kick exactly one minute and 11 seconds into added time at the end of the first half, it represented the fourth occasion this season in which Athletic have conceded outside the parameters of the regular 45 minutes in either half.

Perhaps too many minds are on half-time cups of Earl Grey, or luxurious full-time showers within such splendid surroundings as this fine stadium.

Or maybe this young team simply runs out of mental energy at such crucial times.

Whatever the reason behind the regular lapses, Dickov will want to get to the bottom of the problem — and quickly.

The defeat here, which came as a result of a dominant second-half show from resurgent Southampton, featuring a terrific strike from 17-year-old substitute Alex Chamberlain, drops Athletic to 13th place in npower League One’s bulging mid-section.

The garden had appeared to be plenty rosy for the visitors when Dean Furman gave Athletic the lead in the 22nd minute.

Some confident and assured passing marked the build-up on the right, with a host of players involved before recalled striker Warren Feeney slipped in the midfielder to slide an accurate finish across goalkeeper Kelvin Davis from the right of the penalty area.

The goal gave Saints — well beaten the previous week at Huddersfield — the wobbles.

That was despite bustling goal plunderer Rickie Lambert provoking a full-length dive from Dean Brill of his 35-yard free-kick to keep the scores level in only the fourth minute.

A further moment of danger occurred only two minutes later as Jason Puncheon fizzed a 20-yard shot off a post with Brill left to watch the ball pass him.

Oumare Tounkara had Athletic’s first effort on goal, though he was offside when forcing David into an excellent sprawling stop from point-black range.

Then came Furman’s goal — which was so nearly followed by a reply at the other end only seconds later.

Lambert put his hands to his head after slamming Lallana’s far-post nod-back a yard over when offered time and space on the edge of the area.

The home side gradually regained their feet and Puncheon cut inside off the right flank to let fly with a strike which keeled away three yards wide of the far post.

Then, the equaliser. It had an unsettling familiarity to it from the moment Furman was befuddled by Lallana’s neat twist near the right corner flag.

The winger picked himself up to deliver a cross which was met powerfully by centre-back Fonte, who headed down and in to leave Brill with no chance.

Buoyed by the equaliser, the home team sprung from their trap as the second half opened up.

Reuben Hazell was fortunate that the honesty of Guly Do Prado saw the striker stay on his feet when the Athletic man was caught by a ball over the top.

Athletic were at this point giving the ball away far too cheaply and Dickov tried to change the course of the game by exchanging the disappointing Tounkara for Dean Kelly after an hour.

Saints boss Nigel Adkins made two substitutions of his own and the masterstroke was to bring on jet-heeled Chamberlain, who barely gave his opposite number Black a moment of peace.

Going forward, Athletic were uncharacteristically sloppy on the day. Ritchie Jones, who switched to the right wing in the second half, had a perfect chance to put in a telling cross after Furman had robbed Dan Harding. Instead, a poor ball looped tamely into Davis’s arms.

And when play careered quickly down the other end, a winning goal followed.

Athletic conceded a free-kick which was partly cleared, but Kelly dallied and was dispossessed by Chamberlain.

Roaring at the heart of the visitors’ back line, the winger made room for a right-footed shot which flew across Brill and into the left corner.

Black, Kieran Lee and Feeney were booked as Saints pressed hard for a third. They were unlucky not to get it, particularly when Chamberlain came close to a sensational second, dancing and accelerating his way forward from inside his own half before blasting against the far post.

Chris Taylor came very close to an equaliser deep into five minutes of additional time. His diving header from Lee’s hopeful punt forward was clawed out superbly by Davis.

But in truth, a draw was more than Athletic deserved after a below-par display.


Latics’ next game — Saturday v Plymouth, at home, npower League One