Latics outwitted by tough, disciplined opposition

Photo: All pictures: ALAN HOWARTH

OVER YOU GO . . . Mark Yeates hurdles a Burton defender as he tries to get Athletic moving forward.

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Oldham 0, Burton 1

THERE’S not much worse than fielding praise from an opposing manager after a defeat.

With a team as sharp in mind as his suit was in fit, Burton boss Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink was full of admiration for Athletic's efforts. A tough side to beat, Hasselbaink said. Technically adept and effective at pressing. Athletic fans know it all counts for nothing.

You get no points for pretty passing, for nearly scoring delightful goals or for defending superbly for 99 per cent of the game when the opposition makes the other one per cent count.

A steely, physically-strong side who make the right plays at the right times, Hasselbaink's men are clearly and evidently more suited to picking up results than David Dunn's.

Nasser El Khayati's goal came from Burton's only real chance, before Athletic chucked the kitchen sink at it and almost got caught on the break late on.

Cameron Dummigan got sucked into the middle trying to cut off the pass from Mark Duffy and the Brewers scorer controlled and carefully slotted underneath the onrushing David Cornell in the 17th minute.

It came from nothing, Liam Kelly losing the ball in an innocuous area in midfield, but it counted for everything on the day.

This was a close game and Dunn can rightly point to several Athletic chances, created through skilful and patient manipulation of the ball, which were not made to count.

Jon McLaughlin in the Brewers goal made a pair of fine saves to deny Jay Fulton and the returning Joseph Mills. But lone striker Dominic Poleon should have scored with a second-half header or at the very least, hit the target. Perhaps the injured Michael Higdon would have.

But it was a pair of counter attacks that really showed the difference between the sides.

Five minutes before the end of the first half, Carl Winchester led the charge and had two men in front of him. Athletic had numbers on Burton's back-pedalling defender, but the pass was delayed far too long. Intended for Mark Yeates, Poleon stood on the winger's toes, took it on himself and was crowded out. A huge waste.

Later, Burton's lively midfield man Mark Duffy was in possession in a similar position. He advanced and ahead of him, German centre-forward Timmy Thiele made a very intelligent decoy run to the left to take a defender away from the middle and open up the space.

Duffy wasted his shot, but the attack had a purpose and was constructed with a defined end point in mind.

Mental focus aside, the atmosphere didn't help Athletic here. That is no real mystery given that this result made it one win in 13 matches at home. For all the undoubted resolve shown in some eye-catching away results in 2015-16, that is a wretched run.

Ricardo Fuller had an impact coming on as a substitute, but when he was penalised after it looked like he won the ball cleanly, Liam Kelly voiced his frustration and picked up a fifth booking of the season. The captain now misses the Mansfield FA Cup tie.

Hasselbaink was convivial afterwards, as he might well have been having entered the promotion places.

Athletic would prefer their visiting managers spitting feathers rather than platitudes.

At least the next home game against Barnsley, featuring under-pressure manager Lee Johnson, promises to be a heightened occasion compared to this quiet, disappointing affair.



AFTERWARDS David Dunn said he felt Athletic dominated despite defeat:

“In term of chances, we edged it. They only had the goal that they scored and a chip towards the end and that was about it. I am disappointed to come away with no points after dominating for most of the game.

“Sometimes in football you don't get what you deserve – and the simple fact is that they are going home with three points whereas we are not.”