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Disappointment for Sheridan

Gavin Browne
28/ 1/2008

JOHN Sheridan was left to rue a missed opportunity as Oldham Athletic exited the FA Cup in round four.

Three weeks after humbling Premier League side Everton at Goodison Park, Latics were sent packing by two old boys as Huddersfield Town won 1-0 at Boundary Park.

Former striker Luke Beckett netted the only goal of the game to send the Terriers, managed by former Latics player and manager Andy Ritchie, into the last 16.

The display highlighted Athletic's deficiencies with only four wins at Boundary Park all season and no goals in the last three-and-a-half games.

That cause was not helped by the missing Lee Hughes whose yellow card at Yeovil Town the week before had seen him ruled out through suspension.

Sheridan said: "I'm very disappointed to go out. I didn't think the performance was bad but our problem is scoring goals and you could see that; when we got in the final third, I think we lacked that cutting edge, someone to play the right pass and you saw that with youngsters making the wrong runs at the wrong time.

"There's lots of things - I could talk all day if you wanted me to - but to keep it short and sweet, I need to bring players in to freshen us up. I thought we had an opportunity to get into the next round but the goal was a poor goal to give away.

"We've made the keeper make one or two saves but other than that, we haven't created very much even though we had lots of possession."

In front of the biggest crowd at Boundary Park this season, Latics showed no sign of ending their woes at home.
Of those four victories at home this season, two have come in the league - the last one coming on September 29 - allied to an FA Cup win over Crewe and a Carling Cup victory against Mansfield Town.

With a hectic two months coming up, Sheridan challenged his players to have more belief if they are to make a late run for the play-offs from 13th place.

He said: "Once we get in the opposition's half at home, you've got to have that bit of nous and not be frightened of doing things at the right time.

"We're as good as any team in the division on our day but it's a fact I need to bring players in. I know what players I need, the supporters know what players I need - I'm hoping to get them in and I'll carry on trying."