Latics need to box clever

JAMES WESOLOWSKI (left) battles for possession.

“WHAT happens in the middle of the field is irrelevant, to an extent,” said Tony Philliskirk during his spell as caretaker manager.

“Games are so often won and lost on what happens inside both penalty areas.”

What is not happening in the opposition’s box is proving very relevant to Athletic’s misfortunes in 2012-13.

The Preston defeat, the 22nd of the season, left Athletic with 41 goals scored — one a game.

If that continues over the final five fixtures, the season’s goal tally will be the worst since relegation from the Premiership in 1994.

Manager Lee Johnson made the point earlier this week that the vast majority of goals in games at Athletic’s level come about as a result of mistakes. Athletic are clearly not at all proficient at capitalising on opposition errors — or at making efforts at the other end count.

Athletic aren’t shy at striking at goal: on average just over 11 shots are fired each game, and only eight teams do better.

Defensively Athletic are as average as it gets in the league. So carving out shooting chances isn’t the root cause of their problems.

Clearly, the quality of their strikes is seriously lacking, and is costing points.

When a team is only netting once in every 11 attempts — as opposed to Doncaster, who manage a goal for every six shots or so — it doesn’t take a coaching genius to work out where improvement is needed.

Athletic need to find their scoring feet, quickly. And there is no better time than at Bury.