Latics back to bad habits

EARLY CHANCE: Jean Yves-Mvoto produces a close-range header, but wide of the target.

Carlisle 3, Athletic 1

ATHLETIC were uninspired and comfortably seen off by a zesty home side as the bubble of optimism was pricked at Brunton Park.

At half-time, despite showing only a fraction of the urgency which had brought about 10 points from the four matches preceding the trek north up the M6, Paul Dickov’s side appeared good for a point.

But by full-time, the evidence proved the visitors deserved nothing more than they got - which was absolutely nothing, except for a brutal reminder that workrate wins matches and a painful injury to striker Matt Derbyshire, who faces an x-ray on the rib injury that forced his half-time withdrawal.

Greg Abbott’s side netted three times in the second half. All the goals came about as a result of defensive mistakes.

For the first, Cliff Byrne somehow convinced himself he was a defender of Brazilian brilliance, rather than a doughty stopper. In trying to cleverly pass the ball out of danger, the former Scunthorpe player presented possession to danger man Liam Noble.

Passing the ball to the far post, Noble found Joe Garner, who nodded home the first of his two goals shortly before the hour.

A second self-inflicted wound followed after 74 minutes. Peeling off the back of Jonathan Grounds with ease, Garner nodded home Matty Robson’s cross.

Jose Baxter sprang to life with a searing 20-yard shot which struck the face of the post and bounced back out.

But Robson made sure of the points for Carlisle when hammering home after two Athletic defenders got in a muddle trying to clear one of a stream of crosses.

Baxter’s cheeky penalty five minutes from time, chipped delicately down the middle of the goal, was small consolation for a fuming Dickov.




OUR website carries heavily edited versions of stories only available in full in our print and eChron editions



Follow us on Twitter: @OldhamChronicle