Gaffer pleased with performance despite defeat
Town manager Graham Turner was pleased with the pace and endeavour of his team’s showing against Oldham despite going down 2-1 to the in-form Latics at Greenhous Meadow.
Gozie Ugwu hit his first goal in Salop colours early on to deservedly put Town ahead, but an equaliser on the stroke of half-time and a winner 15 minutes from time meant the visitors left with the points.
“I think it was as well as we have played at home for a while,” said Turner.
“We passed the ball well and got into good areas and should’ve done better in one or two situations. We should’ve played a better final ball, but we didn’t, and that cost us.
“The goals were criminal. We looked at Oldham and pinpointed where the threats were going to come from, and that’s the annoying thing about it. But the encouraging part was the pace we played at and the work of the team.”
It was yet another tale of injury misery for Town with influential defender Joe Jacobson hobbling off on the half-hour, but Turner is hopeful the problem is not as serious as first feared.
“We’re not completely certain whether it’s the back of his knee or the hamstring – he’s not sure whether he knows. I’ve spoken to the physio about it and it’s possibly not looking as bad as feared when he came off.
“With Woodsy missing as well and Jon Taylor missing, and of course Aaron Wildig, it left us a little bit short, but in the end we’ve got to get over this.”
Victory over Notts County on Saturday meant is was a three point total for the home double-header – a tally GT had hoped would be greater heading into an away encounter at Stevenage at the weekend.
“I think we were looking for more from two home matches, especially after the winning start from Saturday. The return in terms of the points is disappointing
“We talked about our lack of away wins in the dressing room. Our away form hasn’t been good enough this season and whilst we’ve played at home and it’s only our second home defeat of the season, away we’ve been poor and we have to improve. It’s a mental thing.”