Robinson drills home message

Oldham Athletic banner at Little Wembley, SportsDirect.com Park

ATHLETIC'S players have no excuse to forget the mantra that is being drilled into them, thanks to a new banner that has been installed.

Manager Stephen Robinson has had the slogan 'Be the Best Team out of Possession' printed out on a banner that has been attached to fencing at Little Wembley.

Hard work off the ball is key to every successful side, argues the Athletic boss, with Sky Bet League One being no different in terms of requiring dedication to graft and positional discipline.

PRINCIPLE

While Athletic haven't scored enough goals this season - nine in 15 league games, ahead of the derby at Rochdale on Saturday - Robinson says that the new banner, one of a set that have have gone up, is a reminder of a vital principle.

While the conceding of goals from set pieces has hurt Athletic in recent games, from general play the defensive line-up has been solid.

Now, the task is to cut out the individual errors at the back and rediscover the cutting edge that brought about recent two-goal shows at Fleetwood and Gillingham and at home to Scunthorpe.

"(The slogan) means that when we haven't got the ball, we are really organised and disciplined," said Robinson, who reports no fresh injury concerns ahead of the Spotland trip, with Lee Croft now back in full training this week.

'INSTILLED'

"Be the Best Team out of Possession' is a phrase that we have instilled into the players and we have only conceded 10 goals from open play all season.

"The first principle we have is that we work extremely hard and are very organised. It is something we have been very strong on.

"There are no successful teams in the world that are not good without the ball.

"Barcelona started the high press and showed how successful it can be.

"We would have had other banners printed with our messages on for when we are in possession - but we don't have the sort of money to be able to do that!"

Athletic skipper Peter Clarke is one yellow card away from picking up a one-match ban.

The centre-back has four bookings so far and another before the cut-off date of November 30 would mean the 34-year-old missing a game.

The same is true of midfielder Ryan Flynn, who collected his fourth yellow card of the season in the 2-0 home defeat to Bristol Rovers.