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A derby dust-up

16/ 2/2005

OLDHAM coach Gary Mercer is warning his players they face a "huge task" in Sunday's Northern Rail Cup derby clash with Rochdale Hornets at Spotland.

The Kiwi will accept no repeat of last weekend's first-half shambles which saw the Roughyeds trailing 20-4 to Blackpool at half-time.

Mercer said: "We can't play a first 40 minutes like that against a National League One side and get away with it.

"We're a new team, not everybody is used to the defensive patterns yet and that showed as I thought three of their tries were down to poor defending."

Bolstered by the arrival of the club's third Cook Island recruit - the giant 119-kilo forward Jonathan 'Dana' Wilson - Mercer is still searching for additions to his squad.

Fullback Gavin Dodd will start on Sunday in place of Jon Goddard who is out for a month after breaking a bone in his hand while Simon Haughton (calf), Mark Roberts (groin) and Andy Isherwood (back) are also expected to be sidelined for at least a fortnight.

Hornets lost their first NRC group game against a Swinton side hit by three sin-binnings last weekend.

Mercer said: "I'll be stressing to the players how important this game is as I believe Hornets will be a top-four side this season - this is a huge task for us."

Meanwhile ex-Oldham and Great Britain forward David Hobbs has joined Mercer's matchday backroom staff to offer his experience and advice.