Chance to bounce back

Latics’ assistant manager writes every week for Chron Sport
I WAS very disappointed with our performance in the 1-0 home defeat at the hands of Hartlepool on Boxing Day.

The visitors came to frustrate us and we did not combat that approach.

By the end of the game, our players had run out of ideas. They offered virtually nothing and people were doing their own thing, forgetting they were part of a unit.

I like the fact we have two league games to play in the space of 48 hours, at home to Notts County tomorrow and then away at Chesterfield on Monday.

It means we don’t have much time to dwell on the Hartlepool defeat and can instead focus on bouncing back with a couple of positive results.

Notts County will feel they have a point to prove after a couple of disappointing displays of late.

In Lee Hughes and Ben Burgess they have two former Latics players who are both capable of scoring goals.

Hughes seems to find the net everywhere he goes.

You only have to look at his record over the last few years to know he is a very good player who we will have to keep an eye on.

Two days later, we head to bottom-of-the-table Chesterfield.

Like any side in their position, they are fighting for survival. That alone makes them dangerous opponents.

It is going to be a new experience for the players because Chesterfield have a good new stadium and they attract a decent crowd to home games.

We beat them 5-2 at Boundary Park so their lads will not require any motivation to beat us.

When you throw into the mix the fact Chesterfield have a number of former Athletic players at their disposal, it makes for an interesting encounter.

Obviously we are up against Chesterfield in the two-legged Johnstone’s Paint Trophy area final.

But that is a totally different beast and first we must focus on trying to get three points.

I think we are better equipped this season to cope with two fixtures in 48 hours.

Our squad is stronger, which should be evident despite the fact we have suffered a few injuries.

We are probably going to shuffle the pack for the Chesterfield game in order to keep players fresh.