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Subs saved the day

Gavin Browne
11/ 8/2008

JOHN Sheridan heaped praise on his substitutes after watching his Oldham Athletic team come from 3-1 down to beat Millwall 4-3.

Having said during the build-up to the game that he would be unafraid to make substitutions as and when necessary, Sheridan was true to his word.

With an hour gone and his team 3-1 down, he introduced Danny Whitaker, Lee Hughes and Lewis Alessandra, all of whom played their part in Latics' recovery.

Hughes had a role in two goals, one of which came when he was tripped for a penalty which saw Paul Robinson sent off, Alessandra scored Latics' second, while Whitaker added a hitherto unseen brightness to the centre of midfield.

Consequently, Sheridan was delighted with their contributions and highlighted the strength in depth among his first-team squad.

He said: "We put the three subs on and luckily it worked. Once they went on the pitch, I thought we dominated and played the way I wanted us to play.

"I think Danny Whitaker was excellent when he came on. We moved the ball quickly and took care of it.

"I've said to the lads all players have good games, but if it doesn't go their way for some reason, that's the thing about having a good squad. I looked at the bench and thought I had some players to get me out of jail.

"Deane Smalley played 40-odd games last year but I left him out altogether. It's a problem but it's a good one."

However, he was not so effusive about the way in which his side had allowed Millwall to go two goals up.

Tresor Kandol opened the scoring within the first 15 seconds, a mix-up between Mark Crossley and Reuben Hazell ended with the latter scoring an own goal, while Lewis Grabban had the freedom of Boundary Park to head into an open goal after Crossley had failed to push David Martin's deflected shot over the bar.

Ironically, the only defender whose reputation was enhanced on the day was Stefan Stam who spent 90 minutes on the bench, but could be recalled should there be any repeat of that defensive disaster.

Sheridan said: "I'd never name names but I said to people there was lots of sloppiness and I didn't like it.

"I've told them it won't get by me and it's important Stefan Stam stays positive. I know he wants to play, he did very well last year and he needs to be ready when the time comes."

A shellshocked Millwall boss Kenny Jackett believed his players shot themselves in the foot after going down to 10 men.

He said: "We still should have had enough with 10 men to hang on. We didn't press, we sat off them.

"If you do that with any side they're going to look a good team. We'd  spent the whole game getting in their faces but we stopped doing that."