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Good workout

30/ 7/2008

LATICS boss John Sheridan feels his players could reap the benefits of their pre-season encounters against Derby County and Hull City.

Having drawn 1-1 with the Rams at Boundary Park last Wednesday, Athletic again shared two goals at home on Tuesday, this time with Phil Brown’s Premier League newcomers.

Caleb Folan had put the visitors ahead five minutes before the break, only for Lewis Alessandra to level the scores on 70 minutes.

Sheridan said: "It was a good test for us again. They kept the ball very well but we worked very hard to stop them from scoring.

"They have players who can get in positions and cause you problems but the chances they had were from distance apart from Greg Fleming’s double save at the end. I was pleased with the workout.

"We have to learn to be patient and not chase the ball because good teams in higher divisions can keep the ball and move it better than teams in our division.

"The two games (Derby and Hull) have been good workouts and I’ve been pleased with the way we’ve battled back."

Hull started with six of their summer signings with one of them, George Boateng, forcing Mark Crossley into an early save along with another £1m man in Folan.

It was the former Chesterfield and Wigan man who opened the scoring, heading past Crossley from Craig Fagan’s cross.

At the other end, Chris O’Grady and Craig Davies were lively up front, although it was Demar Phillips who brought the first save from City keeper Matt Duke.

Ex-Manchester City man Geovanni saw Crossley push an effort over before Alessandra levelled, firing home after Neal Eardley’s free kick fell to him seven yards out.

Fleming, who replaced Crossley midway through the second half, ensured a deserved draw with a stunning double save to keep out Folan’s header and Fagan’s follow-up.

Click on the video window to see the goals from Oldham v Hull City in our round-up of friendlies involving local teams.