Decision-making letting us down, says Dickov

FOUL PLAY . . . Aidan White feels the full force of a challenge from behind.

ANOTHER enterprising and promising, yet ultimately-frustrating performance from Athletic left manager Paul Dickov pulling out his hair on the sidelines.

Up against a Charlton side reduced to 10 men from the 35th minute as a result of captain Christian Dailly’s red card for violent conduct, Athletic produced some excellent football and were camped deep in opposition territory for long periods.

But for the 11th time in 13 games, the post-match press conference circulated around the reasons behind another day on which Athletic fired blanks.

“I thought we moved the ball well at times and got in good positions,” said Dickov, whose side climb a place to 16th in power League One, on 51 points.

“Again, we had good delivery into the box and I felt that their defenders had a bit more desire to get on the end of our crosses than our forward players did at times.

“I am not having a go at the front two (Oumare Tounkara and Reuben Reid) as I thought they were excellent for us, but we need to get more shots in on goal.

“Their ’keeper pulled off a few good saves, we had a few that went just wide and a lot of crosses were put into the box.

“We worked and moved the ball well. They camped inside their penalty area, which makes it hard.

“The frustration we all felt got to the players a little bit, especially in the second half.

“It didn’t quite happen and then I felt some players started taking too many touches on the ball, which gave them time to get set.

“We are a good team against 11 men when we move the ball quickly.

“And it is more important we do that against 10 men, because when teams are a man down they defend for their lives.

“It should have been three points and because of that I am disappointed and frustrated.

“It’s not just myself – the fans and players are frustrated, too.

“Nobody can question the effort and application the players put in. What let us down was our decisions on the ball. As long as we learn from it, we will be OK.

“Nobody is taking their foot off the pedal. We will have a good week in training and work on everything again, including a lot of crossing and finishing.”

Charlton manager Chris Powell, a former Leicester team-mate of Dickov’s, cut a relieved figure at full-time.

“You come to a place like Oldham and you want all 11 men on the pitch,” he said.

“There has been a major incident and we have gone down to 10. “I think it shows the togetherness and work ethic of the players because, to a man, they dug in.

“I am happy with a clean sheet and a point against all odds, really.”


Latics’ next game— Saturday, Yeovil (away), npower League One