Naylor: We let down fans

DOWN IN THE DUMPS . . . coach Scott Naylor looks on as Oldham slip to defeat at Dewsbury Rams in the Kingstone Press Championship

OLDHAM have apologised to fans for their poor performance in a 46-10 defeat at Dewsbury. "As a group, players and coaching staff, we owe our supporters a 'sorry'. They travelled, spent their money and we let them down," said coach Scott Naylor.

It was injury-ravaged Roughyeds' fifth league defeat in a row, having failed against Leigh, Halifax, Swinton, Batley and now Dewsbury, who went 28-0 up at the Tetley's Stadium, scoring seven tries against Oldham's two, scored by Joe Burke and Jamel Chisholm.

Naylor's men remain second bottom ­- two go down ­- but other weekend results again went their way apart from Whitehaven's 12-12 draw with Halifax in Cumbria.

Workington, Swinton and Sheffield all lost with the full-time Eagles now down to third bottom, only two points ahead of Roughyeds, whose game in hand is against Bradford Bulls at Bower Fold on Wednesday (8pm kick-off).

Added Naylor: "We didn't mean to play like that (at Dewsbury), but it happens sometimes in team sport.

"The players are trying hard, doing their best and giving what they've got. Unfortunately, since we won at Hull KR in the cup, and partially because of that win, we've had an enormous run of hugely-demanding games (including those against Warrington Wolves and Leigh Centurions in successive weeks) as well as a horrendous injury crisis.

"Mentally and physically, we have a lot of bruised and battered players. They are very tired.

"We are trying to put out a fully-fit squad each week, but this division takes it out of you. There is no respite.

"We now have another two extremely tough games ­- tougher than Dewsbury ­- with Bradford Bulls coming to Bower Fold on Wednesday (8pm) before we go to London Broncos next Sunday (3pm).

"Only us, players and coaches, can turn things round and we have to tackle it head-on in a professional manner,

"Supporters deserve better than our performance at Dewsbury, but they can be assured that we'll be trying our absolute best when the players go out against the Bulls on Wednesday."

The respective points for-and-against records, and total league points, of Oldham and Whitehaven give a stark indication of how tight it is among the bottom few.

They have each scored 263 points and Oldham have conceded 444 to Haven's 522, yet the Cumbrians are two league places and three points better off.

Danny Grimshaw (broken nose) and Steve Roper (calf) will be checked out before the Bradford game, but time isn't on their side.