Bogged down by fixture schedule

JAMES TARKOWSKI . . . displayed real maturity against an in-form Leyton Orient.

Latics’ assistant coach writes every Friday for Chron Sport
I DON’T believe that the number of fixtures we have been faced with in a short space of time has helped our cause recently.

We have had 18 games in the past 10 weeks. A lot of the younger players are not used to playing a large number of games in a short stretch of time.

This is where experienced pros can get through games better. They know how to manage their bodies, whereas when you are younger you go out and run around for 90 minutes instead of concentrating on the fundamentals of the game.

Mental fatigue comes into it as well. I think we could have had our games spread out a bit better.

A lot of other teams in League One seem to have played games more evenly than we have been able to.

Whereas we were one of the teams with the most games in hand after the enforced winter break, we now seem to have been overtaken by almost everyone.

It is not the whole reason, but it has definitely had a part in why our form has dipped.

Last week we looked solid against Leyton Orient without troubling them, which is obviously an ongoing problem.

But we stopped them from playing and they never really troubled us other than the chances that they had which came from our mistakes. And they were few and far between.

Leading up to the goal, our decision-making when we had the ball was poor.

At the same time, Paul-Jose Mpoku hit a shot he will probably never hit again. Finally, it is one of those goals where you have to hold your hands up and admit there is nothing you can do.

James Tarkowski looked very solid at centre-back at Brisbane Road and he gave us everything he had. He did what we asked of him, simple as that — it was a very good full debut for him.

I have nothing but praise for the lad. He showed a real maturity.

Looking to tomorrow’s game, Brighton are flying high at the top of the league and we have to stand up and be counted.

It is a great opportunity for us. We played very well down there earlier this season, but came away with nothing, losing 2-1 to an injury-time winner. It is an excellent chance to get something back.

Obviously, they have got good players. But I don’t honestly believe there is anything to fear as long as we approach the game in the same way we did last week.

Our performances lately haven’t been up to scratch, last week excepted.

A lot of the players are out to earn new contracts for next season. They are also playing for personal pride, for the manager, the fans and for the club as a whole.