Latics need a cutting edge

CELEBRATION TIME . . . team-mates congratulate penalty hot-shot Liam Kelly.

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Athletic 1, Shrewsbury 1

LIAM Kelly’s penalty should have been enough to tilt this drab affair Athletic’s way - but at the moment Darren Kelly’s side isn’t following through on its promises.

Arriving in the 52nd minute of a game over which Athletic had a comfortable degree of control, the captain’s goal should have settled nerves.

Had it been seen out from there, Athletic would be sitting on the cusp of the play-off places, unbeaten and with plenty of confidence ahead of Saturday’s game at Bury.

Instead, James Collins grabbed a goal out of the blue and from that point in the 70th minute, Athletic’s performance fragmented.

Despite the fact this remains an unbeaten start, with the defence otherwise looking very solid, it’s now three goals in four games and key attacking ingredients are missing.

Jonathan Forte – who struck the crossbar with a superb volley in the first half – was served badly, forced to feed on scraps for too long as Athletic fluffed through balls. Without injured Jake Cassidy, it is clear that the side is light a tough forward at the moment.

Not enough chances are being created either, despite attack-minded midfielders like David Dunn, Danny Philliskirk, Mike Jones, George Green and Carl Winchester in the squad.

Kelly’s side tried to press high up the pitch and had plenty of success at doing so, particularly in the first hour when the visitors looked toothless. But too often movement was slow and too often full-backs Timothee Dieng and Connor Brown didn’t hare down the line on the overlap.

Athletic are too conservative and a crowd of only 3,963 for the second home League One game of the season indicates the manager’s developing brand of play is yet to really excite floating voters.

Dunn made his first start here, operating behind Forte, and provided a handful of driving runs and telling passes in his 73 minutes before substitution.

Offside flags and a slightly heavy first touch prevented Forte from racing on goal on a few occasions and only a very good block by the giant figure of centre-back Grandison prevented last season’s top scorer from firing on target from a Danny Philliskirk pass after 40 minutes.

Joel Coleman almost made a mess of a tame Martin Woods free-kick on the stroke of half-time, spilling the ball before hacking clear with his right foot.

It was a rare nervy moment and Athletic were the better side, continuing to press as the second half kicked off.

Dunn played in Mike Jones down the left side of the area and he wrapped his right foot around a powerful drive that Jayson Leutwiler could only parry over the top.

The penalty from Kelly arrived with the home side well on top. But after that, boosted by clever substitutions, Micky Mellon’s side came back.

Another Ellis header from a corner was caught by Coleman and if that was a warning, when Collins made the most of a slight Philliskirk error to step past Jonathan Burn and then round Coleman before rolling home, the equaliser sucked the life from Athletic.

Shrewsbury camped in Athletic’s half but Athletic responded a little towards the end and Kelly fired the wrong side of the near post after a neat interchange with Philliskirk.

It wasn’t enough, though. Athletic are falling a little short at the moment.