SHERIDAN VOWS TO MAKE IT ALL RIGHT
OLDHAM’S spirited second-half comeback at Bloomfield Road wasn’t enough to stop the Latics slipping to a fourth straight defeat – a run which manager John Sheridan insists he will rectify.
A dominant first-half display from Blackpool gave them a 2-0 half-time lead thanks to goals from Sean Longstaff and Kyle Vassell.
Oldham were much improved after the break and gave themselves hope when Darius Osei struck after 70 minutes, but Sheridan believes they left themselves too much to do.
“We gave ourselves an uphill battle first half. We seem to be saying the same things every week – you can’t start like we did and give the opposition the advantage so early in games,” said Sheridan, whose side do, however, climb off the foot of the table on goal difference after Northampton’s heavy defeat to Peterborough.
“I am very disappointed and gutted for the supporters who were brilliant again today. Why didn’t we play like we did second half in the first half ?
“There’s no way I’m going to lie down. I’m going to face it full on and I’m going to make sure I get it right.
“All of us involved together need to get better and get better results. I can accept losing if you play like you did second half and the fans will as well.”
Longstaff gave Blackpool the lead after six minutes with his third goal in three games and, just like last week, it was a screamer from 25 yards that flew into the top corner.
The Seasiders extended their lead after 15 minutes. Bright Osayi-Samuel’s through-ball cut Oldham’s defence apart and Vassell slid the ball under Ben Wilson. The game was paused briefly after 18 minutes as one Oldham fan marched onto the pitch and appeared to berate their players before being escorted away by stewards.
Oldham vastly improved with two second-half substitutes and one of those, Kallum Mantack, should have scored after 64 minutes but dragged his effort wide.
But Oldham did give themselves hope after 69 minutes when Darius Osei pounced after a goalmouth scramble and lashed the ball home from six yards.
Blackpool manager Gary Bowyer lauded his players, and in particular their first-half display.
“That was one of the best I’ve ever been involved in in terms of managing and coaching from one of my teams,” he said.
“It was a pleasure to watch at times but we have to be ruthless with the opportunities that we have.
“In the end we made hard work of it. I knew there would be a reaction from Oldham and you saw that reaction after half time. We had to weather a storm.
“We have shown great character, first of all at Bradford and then last week against Doncaster to come back from behind. We have just got to keep getting better.”