Soul-searching to be done, says Johnson

Charlie Macdonald goes close for Oldham — but no prize.

ATHLETIC manager Lee Johnson bemoaned missed chances as his men extended their barren run to one point from the last 15.

Yet again, the margin of victory for the opposition – in this case a robust Crawley side who themselves weren’t at their best – was one goal.

But after the visitors wasted FOUR superb opportunities to answer the decisive seventh-minute strike from Joe Walsh, Johnson was left asking what more he could do.

He also made his feelings known to his players, who were kept inside the dressing room at the Broadfield Stadium for a full hour after the final whistle.

“We had four or five real chances but again we have come out without a point,” Johnson said.

“Some

soul-searching needs to be done. The most important statistic is the goals tally, and we didn’t score.

“I don’t know what I can do to legislate for Danny Philliskirk missing from two yards, or Charlie MacDonald missing a one-on-one and then from two yards out again with a header. We have to keep going – that’s all we can do.

“We need character. Sometimes winning consistently can give you that character and at other times you have to find it from within.”

Johnson made a change at half-time but felt the impact his substitutes had on the game was insufficient.

Sidney Schmeltz and Adam Rooney, both dropped following last week’s 1-1 draw with Crewe, came on in the second half but failed to fire.