Saturday 5 February 2011

Oldham 1-1 Dagenham: Post-match thoughts on the North West side.

It’s exciting times for Oldham Athletic on the pitch even if things haven’t been going their way off it. The Latics have climbed six league places into the play-off places in the past month and manager Paul Dickov is extremely pleased with his young side.

Despite disappointment in the week with the news that their plans for a new stadium have been turned down the team are playing some of their best football and only their momentary lapses in concentration seem to be keeping them at the lower end of the play off places rather than the top.

Dickov has praised his players’ mental strength in recent weeks yet it seems like they just can’t catch a break; every tiny mistake is being punished in the most telling ways. They largely dominated the game against bottom of the league Dagenham and Redbridge yet failed to convert that domination into three points. A combination of a fine goalkeeping performance by Dagger’s ‘keeper Tony Roberts and Oldham’s own lack of concentration saw them concede the equaliser that they wouldn’t overcome.

Man of the match and Oldham player of the month, Chris Taylor set up joint top goal scorer Dale Stephens to open up the scoring for the home side soon after the restart. Taylor looked to come inside onto his right foot and shoot but instead laid the ball off to his oncoming team mate to side foot it into the Dagenham net.

This gave The Latics some good momentum but they were denied by Roberts on several occasions. Dickov admitted that Taylor was central to their success and the second half didn’t go as well as he’d hoped. “We were a big threat today when we got Taylor on the ball.”

“Their goalkeeper has made three or four really good saves – any of them go in and it’s a different game. They came here, defended doggedly, set their shape up to frustrate us and did that for long periods of the game,” said the Scot.

The equaliser came from a throw in – a blink and you miss it moment. Manchester United goalkeeper, Ben Amos fails to clear the ball and allows Dagger’s top scorer Romain Vincelot to head in the goal.
Oldham have held on to their star players in the transfer window, extended loan contracts and made some new signings and the manager is delighted with his young, exciting side. Chris Taylor is coming into his own in the midfield; Dale Stephens is rivalling him for the top scorer’s position. Dominating the left hand side whether it’s at full back or midfield is Arsenal player Cedric Evina who is mastering his trade in the North West.

“We had enough chances to win two games today. We’re disappointed with the goal we conceded but we’ve got to be more ruthless at the other end.”

“We’re all disappointed and it feels like a loss yet again but we have to take the positives out of it. We feel that we’re a good team and we’re delighted about where we are.”

That was the note that Dickov signed off on, afterwards making a comment about not making any “fucking excuses” and then apologising to me for his bad language… Paul Dickov being polite and respectful to journalists?? - It has certainly been a weekend of shocks in the football world!