30th March 2000     

Graham injured (just for a change)
Reserves lose

RICHARD GRAHAM has been hit by a new injury blow which is likely to keep the Athletic defender out of action for at least a couple of weeks. Graham picked up a hamstring injury in Monday's reserve-team match against Burnley but, as he completed the 90 minutes, it did not appear serious. It is only now, three days later, that its severity has become apparent. Graham, whose campaign has been disrupted by knee and back problems, joins Craig Dudley on the sidelines as he, too, has a hamstring strain sustained in last Saturday's win at Scunthorpe. It appears their is a Latics curse on hamstrings as youngster Ben Smith was also struck down with the same problem in last night's reserve-team defeat at Burnley. 

There was some cheer on the injury front today, however, as Gerard McLaughlin has not broken his leg as was feared. McLaughlin was carried from the field at Turf Moor on a stretcher with what appeared a serious injury. However, a hospital X-ray has revealed no serious damage. If Athletic think they have troubles, they pale into insignificance compared with those at Cambridge — Saturday's Boundary Park visitors. Cambridge will be without their first-choice strike pairing of Trevor Benjamin and Tom Youngs. Benjamin, who has scored in each of the last six matches to take his season's tally to 18 goals, misses out through suspension. Youngs, who has found the net in five of the last six games, is ruled out with a hamstring injury. Player-coach John Taylor (35) and teenager Nathan Lampey, who made his debut in last Saturday's 2-1 home win against Oxford, are expected to lead the line.

Midfield players Paul Wanless (thigh) and Neil MacKenzie (ankle) are major doubts. Former Manchester United player Neil Mustoe, who has recovered from injury, and Jonathan Hunt, a loan signing from Sheffield United, could come into the reckoning for midfield places. Shaun Marshall is also out so Lionel Perez, on loan from Newcastle, will continue in goal. Cambridge have won three and drawn two of their last five away matches, a run which has helped them climb out of the bottom four. Five weeks ago Cambridge were seven points adrift of a position of safety but since then they have won at Notts County, Bury and Scunthorpe as well as drawing at Brentford and Luton. 

The Latics stepped up a gear after the break as Mathew Tipton tested Andy Paxton, who had come on to replace Mawson. But it was the Clarets who finally broke the deadlock when Leeson ghosted in at the back post to finish off a pin-point Devenney centre. Oldham's reply was almost instant, however, as Ben Smith looped a header beyond Mawson. But the visitors were then reduced to 10 men when Gerrard McLaughlin was stretchered off with a suspected broken leg and Burnley took maximum advantage. Substitute Barrett put the Clarets back in front with a superb header from another Devenney cross. And Devenney, himself, capped a fine individual performance by adding a third in stoppage time. The Clarets could even afford the luxury of a missed penalty as Eamon Kelly's spot-kick was saved by Ben Robertson.

Team: Mawson, Leeson, Devenney, Scott, Heywood, Davis, Bowden, Clark, Shandran, Kelly, Pilkington. Subs: Paxton (for Mawson), O'Neill (for Clark), Barrett (for O'Neill) Not used: Waine, Fogarty.