Latics hit the pain barrier

HIGH FLIER . . . Chris Taylor does his best to get Latics going with a decisive header.

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Athletic 0, Exeter 0

Injuries overshadow superb goalkeeping display

THERE were precious few pleasant notes sounded on an afternoon of disharmony at Boundary Park.

Alex Cisak’s excellent performance in goal, an even-more assured effort at centre-back by composed rookie James Tarkowski and the fact that Athletic didn’t actually lose: these were the high points.

On the negative, as it stands this team is missing almost an entire spine with Dean Furman, Zander Diamond and now James Wesolowski and Robbie Simpson all injured to some extent.

This is a huge worry, with next week’s must-win Wembley decider against Chesterfield in mind.

Shefki Kuqi’s goal drought continues. After scoring 13 times in only 19 matches, the confidence-stricken striker has now failed to find the net in 10.

On Tuesday at Chesterfield he missed a penalty; here, the hard-working Finn was never close to ending the drought.

And as a side, Athletic missed the chance against limited opposition to inject some life into what is becoming a worryingly-flagging league campaign.

With Liverpool and Wembley occupying the thoughts of so many in recent weeks, the lack of any sort of league form has become the elephant in the room.

Athletic have won only once in their last eight matches played in npower League One and thoughts of a play-off charge have been replaced by a collective glance over the shoulder to the clubs below.

Dickov’s side have within them plenty to banish any worries.

Whether through a lack of luck or not, games like this one, though, can’t be allowed to slip away too often without three points being gained.

Such thoughts would not have been aired had Wesolowski’s shot not been tipped onto his own crossbar by Athletic’s nemesis and Grecians shot-stopper extraordinaire Artur Krysiak.

Tom Adeyemi and Chris Taylor also went near with daisy-cutting drives in either half, Filipe Morais went close to out-foxing Krysiak with a deceptive free-kick and substitute Matt Smith should have done better than misdirect a late header.

At the other end, there were also a number of scoring opportunities in a game peppered with the sort of mistakes that can only be expected given such windy conditions.

After Kuqi was pulled up for a foul when it appeared he fairly robbed last defender Richard Duffy of possession, Cisak did brilliantly to keep out a pair of 11th-minute shots.

First, Duffy’s fierce volley from a half-cleared corner was superbly pushed out by the Tasmanian and from the follow-up, Richard Logan appeared heavy favourite to slot the ball away but for a sprawling second save.

After a slow start, Athletic got to grips with the contest and Morais – who was more direct here than at times this term and far more effective for it – dug out a cross after a long burst down the left which Taylor headed narrowly off-target.

Adeyemi, who had an effective game in central midfield, burst forward to set up his own shooting chance from 25 yards which ended up with the ball shaving the far post as the home side continued to press.

And it was still inside the game’s opening quarter that Wesolowski’s left-footed drive was superbly tipped onto the bar by Krysiak.

Tarkowski did well to get a block on a Guillem Bauza shot, before disaster struck Wesolowski with his troublesome shoulder again forgetting its job.

Josh Parker entered the fray, with Taylor stepping into a role in the middle of the field.

From a tight angle, Kuqi couldn’t get a clean connection on a shot at the near post which Krysiak blocked and right on half-time, Taylor appeared to be struck by a flailing arm during a battle for possession. Nothing was given.

Exeter came close three minutes after the break, when Scott Bennett had a couple of shots blocked before hitting an effort at goal which was well-blocked by Cisak’s legs.

Simpson then pulled up with a hamstring problem, leading to on-loan winger Luca Scapuzzi emerging onto the field for what may be his last appearance in an Athletic shirt.

Just after the hour, Morais hit a free-kick towards the near post when a cross was the expected outcome.

Well struck, his shot produced a good save from a sprawling Krysiak.

Athletic had a half-shout for a penalty when Kuqi went down under a challenge from Scott Golbourne – it looked like the left-back got at least a part of the ball – and as the game was played almost exclusively inside the Exeter half, Taylor’s drive from a tight angle on the right travelled narrowly wide.

Paul Tisdale’s side had two chances to snatch victory in the final six minutes.

Lively substitute Daniel Nardiello curled in a shot which was beaten out by Cisak.

And the same player danced his way along the by-line before pulling back a cross which was met by fellow replacement John O’Flynn.

The body of a diving Taylor prevented the ball slipping inside the near post.

The final chance to break the stalemate fell Athletic’s way in added time.

Good wing play by Scapuzzi ended with a cross which Smith failed to find the target with, six yards out.