Dismal start proves costly

IT'S THERE: Darius Osei scores for Latics

IT took only a quarter of an hour of intense frustration to boil over into the most ego-piercing of chants.

"You're not fit to wear the shirt," sang the large following of Athletic supporters, towards their own frazzled side.

First, John Sheridan named only three substitutes of the usual seven - nine injuries were to blame for that - and then, two quick-fire goals for the second week running gave Athletic the metaphorical mountain to climb. For some bedraggled players in the first half at Bloomfield Road, it looked like they had just run a couple of circuits up and down Blackpool Tower before stepping out onto the field.

As was the case against Wigan, the opposition were far more forceful and sure of their own precision and purpose. Athletic played a 4-4-2 but could not compete anywhere on the field. The two lightning quick wingers for the hosts had the run of the park.

Six minutes in, on-loan Newcastle midfielder Sean Longstaff opened the scoring with a spectacular 30-yard effort after finding a large pocket of space between Athletic's back line and midfield. It was his third goal in as many games for the club.

Cameron Dummigan should have equalised shortly after, failing to hit the target with his left foot, and you could speculate that a different result might have followed.

Instead, Kyle Vassell played a one-two, received the ball back and poked in a weak shot that somehow eluded the grip of under-pressure goalkeeper Ben Wilson.

The ball trickling in to the net in front of Athletic's massed fans was too much to take. One supporter came onto the field, appearing to berate the players, and was escorted away by stewards and then Anthony Gerrard.

It could easily have been 4-0 at half-time. Ragged, uninspired in possession and nervy, Athletic improved after that - how could they not? - and the arrival onto the pitch of teenage duo Mason Fawns and Kallum Mantack spawned a new sense of direction and purpose.

Mantack, on the right wing, was particularly forceful. His intent on attacking the full-back to provide crosses was infectious and Darius Osei was the profiteer on 70 minutes, smashing in after Aaron Amadi-Holloway had been fed by Peter Clarke's pass to force the first save of the game from home goalkeeper Ryan Allsop.

Mantack, who spent time on trial at non-league Telford this summer had earlier fired narrowly wide after being fed by Amadi-Holloway.

Fawns had an effort blocked inside the area before Athletic's goal and also fired over the bar in added time.

The afternoon's drama began with the revelation that Athletic would only put out three substitutes. Youth team players Jay Sheridan and Chinedu Uche were on the field helping with the warm-up, but the manager said afterwards he didn't feel comfortable stacking the bench with academy youngsters.

It also sent out a very strong and very public message from manager to chairman: I need players.

Athletic lined up in a straight 4-4-2 formation, with Dan Gardner on the right wing and Rob Hunt the left flank. It was virtually needs-must, but Sheridan cannot have imagined his side would be up against it so quickly.

Three Blackpool corners arrived in the opening minute and Longstaff's rocket, which left Ben Wilson with no chance as it flew into his top-left corner, provided Gary Bowyer's side with the early advantage.

Two minutes before the second goal, Athletic forged a golden chance with patient build-up play, switching play from the right flank to the left with Hunt spinning and crossing for Amadi-Holloway to nod the ball back at the far post. Dummigan had time to measure his finish, 12 yards out, but failed to find the target.

Vassell doubled the lead as play moved down the other end of the pitch, working a break on left well with highly rated winger Bright Osayi-Samuel.

It led to understandable anger inside the away end and Athletic wilted.

Ben Wilson was almost embarrassed when trying to collect a ball creeping towards his area, Longstaff nicking in to get a toe to it first, before Dummigan badly fluffed a tackle with Jimmy Ryan skewing wide from the resultant centre from Birmingham loan flyer Viv Solomon-Otabor.

Wilson saved well from Osayi-Samuel's 20-yard drive, flinging himself to his left to paw the ball behind, and on half-time Vassell almost wrong-footed Wilson with a drive that took a heavy deflection on its journey wide.

Athletic had long since changed their original shape, shifting Hunt infield. The ineffective Ousmane Fane was given the chance of a breather after a nightmare afternoon and Anthony Gerrard was taken off too.

Mantack and Fawns were effective on the flanks and gave the visitors much-needed impetus.

Before then, Vassell had nicked possession off Peter Clarke and fed Osayi-Samuel, who struck wide when well-placed.

Mantack produced a superb cross that whizzed across the box before arrowing a shot wide just after the hour and after Vassell had clipped the top of the crossbar on the break, Osei slammed through a packed penalty area to halve the deficit.

Athletic pushed to level, winning free-kicks and sending multiple crosses into the area. Had they only started the game as they finished it.