Feeney: Gaffer right to have a go

Striker Warren Feeney (left) says Athletic didn’t express themselves against Southampton.

WARREN Feeney revealed that Athletic’s players felt the full force of a verbal volley following defeat at Southampton.

Manager Paul Dickov was furious with his team for falling to a 2-1 defeat featuring two more goals which originated from set pieces.

First, goalscorer Dean Furman fouled Adam Lallana and Jose Fonte beat marker Oumare Tounkara to the ball to head home an equaliser in first-half stoppage time.

And with less than 20 minutes to go, substitute Alex Chamberlain profited from a Dean Kelly mistake as Athletic failed to clear a deep free-kick by left-back Dan Harding.

Feeney, recalled to the side after siting out the home draw with Colchester United, felt the visitors could and should have put up a better show at the St Mary’s Stadium.

“We are disappointed as we didn’t think we played as well as we could have done,” said the 29-year-old striker.

“There is nothing to fear coming here, and taking the lead we felt we could go on and grow in confidence.

“But we gave away two stupid goals. It was suicidal.

“Nobody wants to concede from set pieces. You set up well, but someone switches off and that kills it, right on half-time.

“At the end of the day we had another half to go and didn’t lift it. Then we got hit with another stupid goal we should have cleared.

“The lads are gutted and the gaffer had a go at us. He is right to.

“You want to come to places like this and express yourselves and we didn’t do that.”

No side in League One has let more points slip through their hands after taking the lead than Athletic this season.

Of the six matches in which Dickov’s men have scored first, only seven points have been accumulated.

And not since the second match of the season, at home to Notts County, have Athletic won a match in which they have been first to register.

It is a record Feeney hopes to be able to quickly eradicate, not least by getting among the goals himself.

“It was a battle at Southampton,” he added. “You want to get a couple of chances, but you also want to make it as difficult as possible for the defenders.

“I want to keep playing football, get fit and get goals for Oldham.

“That is another game under my belt. Obviously I was disappointed with how it went, but there are plenty more to come and hopefully we can put it right.”