Match views . . .

UP HIGH ... Charles Dunne rises above his Scunthorpe rival

ATHLETIC manager Stephen Robinson was left ruing another case of chances missed as Athletic failed to make opportunities count in the first half at Scunthorpe:

"The game should have been out of sight by half-time and if we were 4-0 up, I don't think Graham Alexander would have had any complaints.

"We have missed from three or four yards, an open goal, two one-on-ones inside the penalty area and Freddie Ladapo has a shot from close range as well. But if you don't take your chances, you don't win the game.

"We were playing against the top-of-the-league side who are playing superb football at the moment, so we were obviously going to come under a little bit of pressure, but we weathered that.

"We defended well, but we then went down to 10 men, which after that we have no chance. Whether it was or wasn't a sending off, I don't know.

"The boys are getting into the areas, but missing the chances. What more can I say to them? I cannot come out and vilify them, ultimately I have to take the blame for it."

SCUNTHORPE boss Graham Alexander felt his side applied the right sort of pressure in the second half to turn their fortunes around:

"We didn't play particularly well in the first half and to be honest we could and should have been 2-0 down at least with the chances Oldham had."

"Luke (Daniels) made a couple of fantastic saves to keep us in it and their lad has missed an opportunity as well.

"There was a little bit of nervousness about the atmosphere as we were giving simple balls away and getting a little confused in our thoughts.

"We composed everybody at half-time and looked to play a more simple game, make Oldham defend in their half and knew the win would come if we kept a clean sheet.

"That was the case, but it was a great response from the players as it is sometimes difficult to turn a performance around. They certainly did that.

"We bossed the game in the second half and could have had more than one, as Oldham could have had in the first half."