Basic errors cost us — Gray

ATHLETIC manager Dave Penney was so lost for words after Athletic’s 3-1 defeat at home to Southampton, he sent Martin Gray to face the Press.

Assistant manager Gray said: “To have four clean sheets in five games and then to concede three very poor goals was very disappointing.

“You cannot afford to make basic errors against any team and certainly not against a side of the quality of Southampton.

“We conceded two quick goals following two basic mistakes and it zapped the energy out of the team. You cannot afford to do that at any level, but certainly not against a team like Southampton, and it gave us a mountain to climb.

“When we made it 2-1, we were back in the game but then gave them another goal and it was impossible to come back from that.

“I wouldn’t say they outplayed us for big periods of the game, but we handed them opportunities and we were punished for our mistakes.”

Gray was asked what was said to ’keeper Dean Brill, whose blunders handed Southampton a two-goal lead.

He continued: “You say to him he has to do better just as you would say to a centre forward who misses a chance.

“It is how he reacts from that mistake. He had a tough start to the season, but had four clean sheets in the five games before the Southampton match so hopefully we will get a positive response from him.”

Gray described it as a below-par performance and that they needed every player at the top of their game when they face the likes of Southampton, MK Dons and Charlton.

He said: “That is something we need to address better in future matches.”

Southampton manager Alan Pardew said his side had to work hard for the three points.

He explained: “Although the scoreline suggests we won comfortably, we did it in a strange way.

“We could have had the game wrapped up in the first half when we missed three or four big chances including hitting the bar.

“Then they (Athletic) got a goal and suddenly for 10 minutes the game could have changed, but we were strong enough to deal with that. We created enough chances to have won by four or five goals.”

Pardew was delighted with the Saints’ performance, describing Ricky Lambert as being “unplayable” at times.

And the Saints manager had words of praise for Athletic.

He said: “Oldham were a team bang in form and they worked hard and made it difficult for us. They had a really good go in the second half.

“Their endeavour and effort could not be faulted — it was absolutely superb.

“They put us under a lot of pressure and they are one of the better teams we have played in terms of organisation and work-rate and that is down to the manager.”