First half ‘worst I have seen’

TONY Philliskirk couldn’t disguise his anger at the way Athletic set about the first half against Bournemouth.

He branded the opening period as the worst he had witnessed in 15 years at Boundary Park.

“It was unacceptable,” said Philliskirk. “I am pretty placid, but I wasn’t at half-time. There were a few raised voices.

“They talk a good game, but we were inept – second best to everything, showing no passion and no drive or desire; things that should be a given as a professional.

“In the second half, we had a go. The substitutions gave us a bit of impetus and then we missed the chance to equalise.

“If we had scored then, you never know. We may have gone on to win the game.

“But even if we had, it wouldn’t have masked that first 45 minutes.”