Johnson defends team selection after Latics slip-up

Photo: PICTURE by ALAN HOWARTH

SLIDE SHOW . . . Danny Philliskirk is sent flying by a Wolves challenge last night.

LEE Johnson defended his team selection after last night’s Wolves defeat, pinpointing the opening goal as the crucial lapse that cost Athletic a potential draw.

His side didn’t manage to keep a clean sheet as Mark Oxley’s spill allowed Henry to open the scoring five minutes into the second half.

After that, the cavalry — Adam Rooney and Jonson Clarke-Harris — came on to try to get the side back into the game.

But Leigh Griffiths added a second goal following a Jonathan Grounds slip to seal the victory.

Afterwards, Johnson admitted he had thought about keeping faith with the men responsible for keeping Carlisle’s defence busy at Boundary Park on Saturday.

But with Kirk Millar, so impressive as a sub, surprisingly playing no part last night, the boss maintained he was right to make changes.

“Kirk was unlucky not to play,” said Johnson. “He did well on Saturday - but sometimes you go with what you think gives the best chance to win a game.

“I felt that with the quality they have in the forward areas, we had to shore it up a bit. I genuinely think the game plan worked.

“It was a mistake, not keeping hold of it, and they stuck it in. The second one was down to the conditions.”

Athletic were arguably the better of the teams prior to the opening goal: “Our shape was good, distances were good and they couldn’t break through us,” he added.

“We could have been a bit more effective on the break. We played some neat, tidy football and frustrated the crowd. That was part of the game plan and it worked. We were short on football arrogance. They had it and it could have been a lot less comfortable than it was.”