We started playing 4 4 2 with Hayter occasionally dropping deeper but generally pushing up which was good to see. We often cause our own downfall but allowing the opposition to come at us from the back. Two strikers can prevent this.
Right from the outset the match was end to end with Oldham posing the stronger threat. Despite this we played our usual pretty football without really getting anywhere. There were a few chances at either end but the highlights were a Stock freekick just over and then possibly the worst freekick that I have ever seen. This was blasted by an Oldham player in such a way that the ball never got within 15 yards of our goal and nearly ended up going for a throw in.
The free kick had been given for Luke Beckett falling into one of his usual crumpled heaps. How can such a big bloke be knocked over so easily? (Answers to the editor please but I'm sure that the word starts with ch). Half time and hardly a shot on target but still fairly entertaining.
HT: 0-0
The second half started brightly with Surman trying to do the Spicer role of picking the ball up deeper and running at the opposition through the middle. Foley also started doing this but by both coming inside it narrowed the room for the final ball.
Oldham still had the better of matters and Stock had to clear off the line. Stewart was now in gainful employment and had to make several saves and even Day in the Oldham goal had to close his deckchair!
Just when it looked like being an end to end 0-0 Oldham's Killen was adjudged to have been fouled by Browning in the area. As this happened at the far end of the pitch it is difficult to say what actually happened but Marcus appeared to have been knocked and was falling as Killen was brought down and it seemed that there was no intent but the ref (Mr Curson) may have taken into consideration that Browning is a seasoned pro.....if you get my drift. Anyway Liddell scored comfortably from the spot.
The match continued in much the same vein with us looking for the equaliser but not having anything to offer to achieve this. Hayter and Keene had half chances but there was not a lot of goalmouth action. Oldham kept going for their second but were similarly toothless. Surman ran out of steam and was replaced by Cooke (a real disappointment so far this season) and then Keene was replaced by Pittman and Hart by Rodrigues all to no avail.
During the match Oldham made a number of robust challenges, indeed they had three booked, which killed off our threat in some ways due to the lightweight nature of our team at the moment. The main problem as I see it tacticswise is that we are playing so narrow with only the fullbacks providing any width. This congests the middle of the park and limits the room for our neat passing. To obtain any benefit from this we need to stretch the play and can only do this with width. It is apparent that SOD and ROK are concerned about the number of goals that we conceded last season from crosses and the tactic change may be due to this but it has stopped us scoring as well and you don't win if you don't do this.
But there is no need to panic just yet. Once a number of the injured players are back to fitness we will be able to make a true judgement of where we are likely to finish this season. I implore everyone to keep the faith and to keep going to matches. Oh and bring your boots with you as you never know!
Virtually impossible to pick anyone but as I have to I'll go for Foley as he showed what he could do........but should be doing so on the wing not inside.AFCB: Stewart, Hart, O'Connor, Gowling, Young, Foley, Stock, Surman, Browning, Hayter, Keene
Subs: Cooke (on for Surman, 79), Cooper, Coutts, Rodrigues (for Hart, 88), Pitman (for Keene, 85)
Phil Nesbitt, Acocks Green