Scholes is mystified as Latics let it slip
PAUL Scholes was disappointed and mystified after his “tired” Oldham side let a first-half lead slip against a battling Cambridge outfit.
Jevani Brown scored immediately after the interval for the hosts, converting when goalkeeper Dimi Mitov’s clearance ran all the way through to him to earn a point for the U’s, who had trailed through Harrison Dunk’s headed own goal.
Chances were hard to come by throughout, with Oldham’s only other shot of note being Nepomuceno’s effort wide from the edge of the box, while Reggie Lambe produced Cambridge’s only two efforts.
Oldham had a glorious chance to go back ahead 21 minutes from the end through Oladapo Afolayan when a Nepomuceno corner fell to him at the back post, but he fired his effort wide.
The draw lifts Cambridge a further point away from the League Two relegation zone, rising to 10 points clear of the drop.
“I can’t explain the second half performance,” said Scholes. “It was probably the worst half of football we’ve had since I’ve been here.
“We looked lively, played some good stuff at times in the first half and controlled possession without really looking that threatening. There were a couple of chances, but not much, and we scored a lucky goal.
“In the second half we started badly and didn’t get any better. The players looked tired in the second half, which could be understandable as they’ve had a couple of hard weeks training.
“We’ve got a tough game on Tuesday against Lincoln which we know that if we play anything like we did second half we’ll struggle.”
Cambridge boss Colin Calderwood was happier with his side’s performance after the U’s continued their impressive home form, which has seen them lose once in 11.
“It was a hardearned point,” Calderwood said. “Oldham played a really good level of football and we didn’t do as well as we’d want in the first half, but we got the break at the beginning of the second half to get the equaliser. That second half performance is a good level.
“We’re taking enough points at the minute and I was really proud of them, especially in the second half, with the level of football.”