Gannon hits out at Oswell after defeat
COUNTY boss Jim Gannon blasted his side – and striker Jason Oswell in particular – after a second-half collapse led to a 3-1 defeat at Southport, claiming a number of his squad are “being selected on reputation alone”.
Rhys Turner – who was later replaced due to a nasty ankle injury – grabbed an early opener was cancelled out just minutes after the break by Jack Sampson’s deflected effort, before striker Jason Gilchrist curled the hosts into the lead. Sampson headed home late on to secure a vital three points for the National League North strugglers.
County slipped to 10th in the division, three points off the play-off positions, with a number of rivals holding a fixture in hand. And Gannon took aim at senior members of his squad.
“Southport have invested heavily, brought in some quality and credit to them, because they’re one of the form sides in the division.
“Our link-up play just wasn’t up to scratch and at the end of the day, I’ve learnt a lot about some of our players. Some weren’t able to rise to the occasion, some are in the side on reputation alone and we have to really assess the side now.”
Controversy arose in the second half with the game tied at 1-1 when, with the Hatters piling forward, leading marksman Jason Oswell went down under minimal contact by defender Billy Priestley inside the area.
Despite an attempt on goal looking the better option, Oswell went down easily and led referee Paul Marsden to award the 25-year-old a caution for simulation; and Oswell’s manager was far from pleased with the antics of his top scoring forward.
“The turning point is Jason’s dive – we’re on the front foot, all of a sudden, we’re in a position where Jason doesn’t take a shot, goes down, Southport go up the other end and score. Then they get the third as we’re chasing the game, but I just think we had too many players who didn’t rise to the challenge.
“We had players like Harry Winter, Jimmy Ball and Darren Stephenson who really went for it and stepped up to the plate when we were behind, they got us up the pitch and looked a threat – but there were others who just didn’t look interested in the battle.”
The Hatters chief suggested for all Oswell’s mammoth 23-goal tally, his side appeared to be better off in the 2016/17 campaign with a frontline of Kay Odejayi, Josh Amis and Sefton Gonzales – a strike force which managed just nine goals between the trio over the entire season.
“Southport have got a proper target man who can get them up the pitch and we struggled with that. Everyone talks about goals, but I don’t always judge on goals. We had target men last year who got us up the pitch and we were in and around the play-offs, but we have a forward this year who’s scored 23 goals and we’re nowhere near the play-offs.”
The Hatters were due to travel to 2nd placed Harrogate Town on Tuesday evening as the Express went to print in search of a second consecutive league win at their Yorkshire opponents; and in hope of climbing back towards the National League North play-off positions.
County’s tricky January doesn’t get any easier this coming Saturday, as Gannon’s men host play-off chasing York City at Edgeley Park.