Browse Sections

• Oldham Athletic FC
• Oldham Roughyeds'
• Local football
• Local cricket

Start scoring soon

Gavin Browne
25/ 2/2008

LATICS boss John Sheridan challenged his players to start scoring goals sooner rather than later if their season is not to fizzle out.

Last Saturday's 1-0 reverse at Brighton and Hove Albion was costly in more ways than one for the Oldham manager; his side were beaten and also saw top scorer Craig Davies depart inside half-an-hour thanks to a hamstring injury. That leaves Sheridan missing 21 goals up front with Davies (13) joining Lee Hughes (eight) on the sidelines in the short term.

With a hectic run of games coming up, Sheridan has told the likes of Lewis Alessandra and Deane Smalley that they need to find the net sooner rather than later.

He said: "We do finishing every day but if you don't hit the target, you don't give yourself a chance of scoring. People have got to attack the ball but they're stood still too much.

"I'll have to bring someone in up front. The kids, if they're going to play first-team football, are going to have to learn to adapt quickly.

"We had some great chances but we haven't made the keeper save them. Craig, Lewis and Chris Taylor had excellent chances while their goal was so sloppy it's untrue.

"We should have scored at least two goals with the chances we created and it'll happen on another day. As a striker, you should want to score goals but Lewis needs to score a goal and Deane Smalley should have six or seven with the chances he's had this season."

Another continual area of concern for Sheridan is what he perceives as a lack of on-field leadership. The manager has previously spoken of the need for his players to be more vocal, especially given the absences of Sean Gregan and Andy Liddell.

However, although Mark Crossley does his share of shouting from the goalmouth, Sheridan feels his team must become noisier.

He said: "When people do the wrong things, I don't want to hear my voice telling them, I want people on the pitch telling and helping each other.

"I don't get that on the pitch and, as a team I think we're too quiet which is something that has to change."