Latics deeper into the abyss

Photo: Alan Howarth

UP FOR THE FIGHT . . . skipper Liam Kelly shows his trademark determination.

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Athletic 0, Bury 1

A SEVENTH defeat from the last nine games in a season as rotten as a missed black bin collection, the most damning aspect of this particular exhibit was that Athletic actually played fairly well.

At least, in terms of tempo of passing – new on-loan Burton midfield man Matt Palmer was bright – and in forcing Bury 'keeper Ian Lawlor into a few acrobatic saves.

Mike Jones struck an excellent free-kick in the second half which Lawlor did well to tip over, the Bury shot-stopper already having done likewise to a Palmer effort from open play in the opening period.

David Flitcroft's out-of-form side, who came into this game with seven straight away losses in the league, were placed under pressure at times.

Yet for all the energy and attitude – similar to that apparent in David Dunn's final game here against Millwall – the home side couldn't find a way through against opponents happy to hack away and manfully defend set-pieces using their superior size while a goal to the good.

And for Athletic's relatively new manager John Sheridan, an old problem reared its head again.

That is, Athletic are unable to defend without at least one brain explosion for 90 minutes.

Within the minds of the back four, demons lurk. Rank indecision as well a lack of physical presence haunt this team. Six months into the

season, Athletic have not one centre-back on the books physically equipped for battling with rougher, tougher League One forwards of the type these visitors possess.

And here was more evidence that Athletic have a midfield which, while hard-working and technically adept, contains little threat by way of movement and willingness to accept a pass on the half-tun in tight pockets.

Palmer's sharpness off the mark provided not so much cheer as a depressing reminder of the lack of vitality in a side that has scored two fewer goals at home (a pitiful 14) than Leon Clarke has managed on his own this season.

Up front, there was not one serious attempt at goal from any of the four strikers tried out by Sheridan.

Apart from that and the fact that Blackpool's £75,000 steal of top scorer Danny Philliskirk

further reduced the goal threat, and that season ticket holders have paid out £23 per goal and £325 per win this season - that solitary victory coming two managers ago, back in the late summer and by way of daylight robbery against Fleetwood - things are at least improving off the pitch.

The directors, for instance, had a swish facility to dine in pre-match for the first time in the North Stand. Thank heavens for small mercies.

Clearly, the new stand is a boon for the future of the club. But its impact in swallowing up available finance has had a catastrophic effect on team-building this season.

Short-term contracts, short-term loans and short-term-managers have left a long-term malaise and now, increasingly-likely relegation.

Sheridan's appointment was clearly made with half an eye on next season, but it can be a long way back from League Two. Only eight clubs have bounced straight up after relegation in the past decade.

The arrival of Sheridan boosted the home crowd numbers for this derby, but his problems remain the same as those faced by the less popular Dunn and before him Darren Kelly and arguably before that, Dean Holden.

Athletic need new players. But money is so tight, managers need to turn water into wine. More lesser-known gems in the shape of Palmer are a must to inject life into a squad that has forgotten what winning is.

Flitcroft's team talk will have been simple. It is for every opposing manager. Smash it up to relative giants Leon Clarke and Tom Pope and play from there. They don't like it up them.

In the 10th minute, Bury duly went in front to pop the bubble of misty-eyed optimism over Sheridan's homecoming.

Leon Clarke's goal came, as so often they do, from a hopeful punt upfield, from Athletic hesitating and letting the ball bounce (James Wilson was the culprit) and against the run of play.

Jones, who grafted all game and provided some excellent deliveries into the box, stumbled as he shot in the opening minute and Brian Wilson was on hand to effect a smart tackle on Pope at the other end before Leon Clarke's strike saw him slip past James Wilson's left shoulder to roll the ball home under Joel Coleman.

There are worse defences in Sky Bet League One, but no side has faced a deficit on home soil at half-time on as many occasions (nine) as Athletic.

Liam Kelly could have equalised from a Jonathan Forte cross after 24 minutes. Starting for the first time since a knee operation, Forte was partnered up front by Dominic Poleon and his cross was a fraction too far in front of his captain's head inside the six-yard box.

The Shakers were lively on the break, though, Andrew Tutte volleying wide from a lovely Leon Clarke knock-down, while Palmer smashed in a shot that on-loan Manchester City goalkeeper Lawlor did well to arch back and turn over the bar.

Athletic were on the front foot again at the start of the second half and Jones extended Lawlor with a 20-yard free-kick he leaped across to his right to push out.

James Wilson partly made amends for his earlier error with a block of a Leon Clarke shot after Coleman made a hash of a cross, while Timothee Dieng was unfortunate to direct a far-post volley wide from a Jones set-piece.

Tutte was wasteful in flicking the crossbar when he had the whole goal to aim at following another powerful Leon Clarke surge, before Dieng looked to have been shoved in the back soon after when battling for a corner.

If that sort of dominance was on the edge of the game's laws, veteran lower-league defender Peter Clarke's excellence in the air against Athletic's line of ineffective forwards illustrated a key ingredient which has been missing all season from a side seemingly destined for the drop.

If Sheridan can turn this around, a miracle will have occurred.