Lethargic Latics all at sea

Photo: Pictures: ALAN HOWARTH

LIFELINE . . . Adam Rooney (partially hidden) grabs Athletic an undeserved equaliser at the end of a one-sided first half.

1 More Image(s) In Gallery

Notts County 3, Athletic 2

CEMENT boots and leaden heads were the order of the night for Athletic, who produced one of the most abject first-half displays in memory in a sixth defeat in seven away ganes.

Seeing was believing at Meadow Lane. County had previously won only twice in 13 matches, but were made to look like promotion contenders in a wretched opening period for Lee Johnson’s travel-sick, flat-footed side.

Every single ball floated into the penalty area, mainly from the boot of ex-Boundary Park man Alan Sheehan, caused mayhem. Without lynchpin James Tarkowski, Athletic lacked leadership and determination at the back - and any semblance of cohesion further upfield.

Caretaker Magpies boss Steve Hodge, by contrast, had both of those qualities in abundance right across the pitch.

There were two major mysteries as the half-time whistle went: how even a team as down on their luck as the Magpies had failed to score more than once, and how Athletic had the gall to equalise.

Athletic were so bad before half-time, lackadaisical, disorganised, limp and ineffectual.

Athletic fared far better going forward in the second half, aided by the early substitution of Jonson Clarke-Harris for the ineffective Kirk Millar.

Dayton went close twice, the second time going for an ambitious chip when he would have been better served pulling the trigger earlier with more orthodoxy, while David Mellor strode forward to hit a shot which was deflected only a foot clear of the far post.

And Clarke-Harris’s cracking 25-yard free-kick produced some cheer for the short-changed 277 fans who made the trip. But the crux of that matter was, it came only after Athletic had fallen two goals behind.

By that point, the home side was content to hack the ball away from danger. The commitment they showed throughout should have been matched by Athletic - instead, the visitors allowed themselves to be bullied and out-thought – tactically, too - with Hodge making the right substitutions at opportune moments.

Lee Johnson, once his rage has eased, will reflect on whether it was right to start with Millar rather than Clarke-Harris, for all the latter’s frustrating tics.

One change is certain for the next trip to Bristol City: Tarkowski will be back, having given a frightening glimpse into a possible future where his presence – utterly vital, even at the age of 20 – in defence is exchanged for cash in the Boundary Park piggy bank.

Who else plays, in order to make Athletic more than the soft touch on the road results render them, is up to Johnson.

The manager was let down by his players here. The only acceptable option is to do better.