31st January 2000 

Striker search

ATHLETIC are back in the hunt for a new striker after seeing top scorer Mark Allott hit by injury on Saturday. Allott pulled up sharply after only 17 minutes of the victory over Oxford and had to be carried off the pitch on a stretcher. A pulled hamstring was the quick diagnosis and the 11-goal marksman is expected to be out for around a month. It is a serious setback for Athletic, who are also without Paul Beavers and Craig Dudley, although the latter is close to a comeback. Manager Andy Ritchie admitted today that he is looking to delve in the transfer market before next weekend's tough trip to Millwall. "I'll be making a few phone calls," Ritchie said. "We could be looking at a permanent move or a loan deal but, at the moment, loans might be the best way forward. "I'm hoping Craig Dudley will play in the reserves on Wednesday and, with the progress he has made, he should be fit enough to get on with it. "But it's different with Beavers. He is still struggling and would probably be doubtful for Saturday." Dudley has missed four games with a foot problem, while Beavers' latest setback is a groin injury. Ritchie has always made it clear that more firepower is his top priority and, just before Christmas, he failed with a £60,000 bid for Bury's Ian Lawson. The only fit forwards at the moment are Steve Whitehall, who scored twice on Saturday, and 19-year-olds Matthew Tipton and Ryan Sugden. More options will be essential if Athletic are to continue their climb up the table and Ritchie is wasting no time in making enquiries. Saturday's game also saw a welcome return for Richard Graham after a 10-week absence. Graham played in midfield for the final 13 minutes and suffered no reaction to the back complaint which had troubled him for so long.

Lady Luck smiles on Latics

OLDHAM ATHLETIC 2, OXFORD UNITED 0

THERE was a time this season, when defeat was being piled upon defeat, that everything Athletic touched turned to dust. When you are walking the mean streets at the wrong end of the table, you are much more likely to be mugged by misfortune than kissed by Lady Luck. How times have changed. Now they have soared into mid-table, Athletic are enjoying more than their fair share of the breaks. That was certainly the case against Oxford, who deserved better from this game than to be dumped into the second division’s relegation zone. The one serious blow to Athletic came in the 17th minute when striker Mark Allott was forced off with a hamstring injury which could keep him out for a month. But there was already evidence that it was not going to be Oxford’s day and, with two-goal Steve Whitehall finishing them off, the pattern continued right up to the final whistle. Coming straight after the disappointing collapse at Burnley, Athletic’s victory emphasised how resilient they have become. It also extended a revival run which features some pretty telling statistics.

This was their fourth league win out of five since the turn of the year and made it only one defeat in eight games. They are unbeaten in five at home — quite a contrast to their previous record — and have lost just four of their last 19 to climb from bottom spot to 11th. Their highest position for almost two years is down to a vastly improved defensive record of five clean sheets in six matches. That, perhaps, is the most distinguished figure of all, although the latest shut-out was due more to Oxford’s wastefulness than Athletic’s new-found status as mean-minded misers. Athletic did not play well against an Oxford side who out-passed them for most of the game. There was an element of good fortune about both their goals and they did not show the prodigious work rate which has been a feature of past displays.

The loss of Allott, whose ability to hold up play was glaring in its absence at Burnley, was again keenly felt. Despite two welcome goals to take his season’s tally to seven, Whitehall still looks short of his best and sometimes found his touch letting him down. Meanwhile, Allott’s replacement, Matthew Tipton, needs to be facing the opposition goal with the ball at his feet to be seen to best effect. And, for the most part, he was denied that service. Without Allott to hold possession through the middle, Athletic directed most of their attacks down the flanks. But their passing didn’t reach its usual standards and it was Oxford who were the smoother operators. As Athletic proved at the start of the campaign, however, attractive football is rendered pointless when there is a lack of an end product. Although Oxford had no shortage of chances and shots, their finishing was nothing short of horrendous. Due to heavy rain, the match had to pass a pitch inspection at noon. There was also some late patch-up work by Oldham Council, who now have a big share in Boundary Park, after high winds damaged the scoreboard. But both sides made light of the conditions to create early openings, Derek Lilley forcing the first save with a low shot for Oxford and Paul Rickers narrowly failing to make proper contact with a Neil Adams cross for Athletic.

Scott McNiven had the home fans on their feet after 10 minutes when his skimming 25-yard drive struck a post, although an offside verdict meant it wouldn’t have counted. And, back at the other end, Mark Hotte’s poor header let in Steve Anthrobus, who took far too long to make up his mind and was ambushed by a posse of defenders. Anthrobus volleyed another good chance past the post as Oxford, with Paul Powell a constant threat down the left, defied their lowly position. The breakthrough, however, went to Athletic, who used a slice of luck to go in front after 32 minutes. Defender Phil Whelan was penalised for obstructing Whitehall on the edge of the box and, when the free-kick was touched to the same striker, his left-foot curler clipped the edge of the Oxford wall and flew beyond wrong-footed ‘keeper Paul Lundin. It was tough on the visitors, who then saw the hapless Anthrobus blast off target once again.

But the worst miss of the day came just after half-time when Powell pounced on McNiven’s blunder, only to fire wide of the far post with only goalkeeper Gary Kelly to beat. Whelan also misfired when allowed a header from a free-kick and Athletic almost punished the visitors when Lundin failed to gather a corner and Adams’ effort had to be cleared off the line by Neil McGowan. After 62 minutes, McGowan became the second player to go off on a stretcher, having suffered a suspected broken leg while challenging Andrew Holt. Tipton could have compounded Oxford’s misery shortly after, but his rising drive from a Lee Duxbury pass was tipped over by Lundin. As the second half wore on, Athletic began to look far more secure at the back. Oxford, for whom Nigel Jemson had a quiet debut, were always tidy, but they became demoralised when their attacking edge was blunted. Although there was a minor scare when substitute Jamie Cook tested Kelly, Athletic made sure of the points with their second strike two minutes from time. A terrible clearance by Canadian centre-back Mark Watson went straight to John Sheridan 30 yards from goal. The veteran bided his time and passed left to Whitehall, who calmly slotted his shot underneath Lundin from eight yards. Even the killer goal didn’t bring an end to Oxford’s day of misery. Cook had two good openings in injury time but, in a neat summing-up of his side’s whole afternoon, both shots were cleared off the line.

Oxford were the better side, says Ritchie

ANDY RITCHIE admitted his side had been fortunate to collect three points after a scrappy performance against struggling opponents. The Athletic boss had sympathy for rival manager Mickey Lewis, who was left “devastated” by Oxford’s latest defeat. Said Ritchie: “Oxford deserved something from the game and I feel sorry for Mickey and his lads because they were the better side. “We rode our luck a bit because we didn’t function or do any of the good things we have been doing in recent weeks. “We didn’t pressure Oxford, we didn’t get around their feet and we didn’t play well overall. “In fact, I thought we played a hell of a lot better at Burnley last week and we lost that game 3-0. “The lads are ecstatic because there were recriminations at half-time when we knew we were lucky to be in front. “And when Paul Powell missed after going clean through at the start of the second half, we were breathing another sigh of relief.

“The one thing we did was graft and you have to be happy if you play badly and win 2-0. “We would have lost that game last season, so that’s something to be pleased about. “The luck has changed round since the start of this season and it’s about time we had our share. “I thought we deserved something from every game except Brentford away, but things were hitting the post and going wide instead of going in for us.” There were mixed fortunes for Athletic’s strikers, with Mark Allott picking up a hamstring injury and Steve Whitehall ending a run of only one goal in 13 games. Ritchie added: “Steve hasn’t been playing particularly well recently and we had a chat about it. He responded well and took his second goal very competently. “But it’s a blow to lose Mark Allott. We missed him at Burnley last week and he will be difficult for us to replace.” Lewis was in despondent mood after seeing Oxford’s finishing cost them any chance of a valuable point. He said: “I’m devastated. We had enough chances to win two games and, after we missed them, it was almost as though we didn’t believe we could score or win. “They were very good chances as well, but no-one misses them on purpose so we can’t feel sorry for ourselves. “At least we created them. We just have to keep getting into those positions and hope that things will go our way.”

Lewis recalled Steve Anthrobus up front to partner new signing Nigel Jemson in a side which was without the injured Joey Beauchamp. United started brightly, with Matt Murphy and Derek Lilley both having shots easily saved by Kelly, before Anthrobus had a great chance to put Oxford ahead. Kelly and Andrew Holt got in each other's way and the ball ran to Anthrobus eight yards out. The big striker just needed to hit the ball first-time with his right foot into an empty net, but instead tried to get it on his preferred left. Holt recovered and the chance had gone. Jemson made a massive difference to Oxford's front line, showing just what they've been missing. He did most of his good work with his back to goal, but was also instrumental in many of United's chances. The scoreline might have been so different if he had been on the end of some of them. Powell went on a weaving run and fed Murphy, who tricked his way past two defenders before setting up Anthrobus with another great chance from 12-yards. This time, the striker got his shot in, but it went wide.

Oldham lost top scorer Mark Allott with a hamstring injury and, although the home side were finding in hard to break through United's back line, they made them pay for the earlier misses. Phil Whelan was adjudged - somewhat harshly - to have obstructed Steve Whitehall on the edge of the box and Whitehall got up to take the free-kick himself. His shot was going straight into the hands of Lundin, but took a wicked deflection off Powell on the end of United's wall and nestled in the other corner of the net, giving the Swede no chance. United kept coming forward and Anthrobus saw another shot from Jemson's cross go wide. Only 55 seconds of the second half had gone when Murphy's through ball was missed by Scott McNiven and put Powell clean through. But, with just the keeper to beat, he scuffed his shot wide and a fantastic opportunity had gone. At the other end, Lundin parried a Whitehall shot away and from the corner, McGowan had to clear off the line from Neil Adams.

Unfortunately for McGowan, that was to be his last action of the season after he was stretched off in agony. Lewis replaced McGowan with Jon Shepheard, and sent on Jamie Cook for Lilley. Cook had a shot saved at full stretch by Kelly, before the normally reliable Mark Watson handed Oldham their second. Trying to pass the ball out of defence, Watson hit his clearance straight to John Sheridan, who set up Whitehall to fire past Lundin. Cook then saw two efforts cleared off the line in injury time, but the harsh reality is that if Oxford do not start scoring, they will go down.United's triple torture IT was triple torture for Oxford United at the weekend. Not only did the 2-0 defeat at Oldham on Saturday leave the U's in relegation trouble, but they also learnt that they will be without Neil McGowan and Ross Weatherstone for the rest of the season. McGowan was stretchered off with a broken leg on Saturday, while Weatherstone's injury at Brentford last Tuesday has been diagnosed as cruciate ligament damage. He will be out for six months. It is a huge blow for first-team coach Mickey Lewis as McGowan and Weatherstone have both made a big impression in the first-team this season. "I feel so sorry for Neil," said Lewis. "It didn't look as if it was that bad at first, just a normal challenge." McGowan admitted he was "gutted" after picking up the injury. "I went in for the challenge and I think the Oldham player caught me with his trailing leg. I went down and my studs got stuck in the turf." Putting the injuries aside, Lewis admitted that he was devastated about Saturday's result. "I was more disappointed today than in any other game this season. In the first half, we created enough chances to win two games and then Paul Powell had a glorious chance at the start of the second half. "After he had missed that, I thought we looked as if we believed we wouldn't win it. But we've got to keep getting into those positions and hope a bit of luck goes our way. "We're in a bad position now and we've got to get out of it, starting on Tuesday against Preston."Powell was clean through after just 55 seconds of the second half on Saturday, but, with just the keeper to beat, scuffed his shot wide. "I just panicked," he admitted afterwards. "I didn't know whether to go around the keeper or chip it over him. In the end, I got stuck between the two. "It's very frustrating for us because in the first half we created more chances than we have done all season." The big plus point for United was the return of Nigel Jemson, who turned in an impressive performance. "I thought Jemmo really showed the quality he possesses today," said Lewis. "Most of our chances came through him and, in the end, we probably didn't get enough ball to him." Jemson, meanwhile, was pleased with his first game back at the club after rejoining from Ayr on Thursday. "I really enjoyed it - except for the result, he said. "Considering the time I've been away, I thought I gelled in quite well. "The boys were saying that the first half is the best they've played for quite a long time, and if we carry on playing like that, we'll definitely get out of trouble." Although he was brought in to score goals, Jemson's link-up play gives Oxford another dimension. "There's pressure on me to score goals and the more pressure there is, the better. Hopefully, I can produce the goods," he added. "We created chances today, but everybody's human and misses. The important thing is that we keep creating them."