13th November 2000  

Hansen leaves

A NASTY injury to winger Neil Adams has taken the gloss off Athletic’s superb victory at Stoke City. Adams, who has returned to top form during his side’s run of four wins in six games, twisted knee ligaments and will be out for at least three weeks. He fell awkwardly in a tackle at the Britannia Stadium and was carried off on a stretcher in obvious pain. A specialist is examining the injury today (Monday) and Athletic are keeping their fingers crossed that the damage isn’t too serious. If it is, Adams could be on the sidelines for well over a month. It is a big blow for the veteran, who was playing against his former club and reaches his 35th birthday next week. Athletic have no obvious replacement on the right-hand side, although Mark Allott did well there as they comfortably held on to a 1-0 lead. Allott - dropped as a striker on Saturday to make way for Craig Dudley - is set to stay in midfield for next weekend’s FA Cup tie at Conference club Hednesford. 

Manager Andy Ritchie said: “He did a great job there at Stoke and has done okay when he has played on the right in the past. “We will try a couple of other permutations during the week, but I want to keep a similar shape.” Athletic had two midfielders on the bench at Stoke, but Allott was preferred to both Danny Boshell and Phil Salt. It will probably be a similar story at Hednesford, where Athletic must avoid what Ritchie calls “a potential banana skin”. “They have a poor defensive record,” he explained. “But they aren’t bad at scoring goals. And there is no real guide to form because league results will count for nothing. Playing against us will be Hednesford’s cup final.” 

Athletic hope to take over 1,000 fans to Keys Park, where it is pay on the day for standing places. A few seat tickets are left and members have until 5pm tomorrow to buy them. Any remaining tickets will then go on open sale. Defender Andrew Holt missed Saturday’s game with a dead leg. The injury isn’t serious and he should be back in contention for the first-round tie. 

Athletic’s youth team play two cup ties this week. They face Preston at Stalybridge Celtic tomorrow (7pm) in the Lancashire FA Youth Cup. And they take on Port Vale at Boundary Park on Thursday (7.45pm) in the Axa-sponsored FA Youth Cup

ATHLETIC ruled Britannia on Saturday, with a rod of iron and a will of steel. After six wins out of seven at their imposing stadium, high-flying Stoke were kicked off their throne by a very organised coup. Athletic showed ruthless efficiency to upset the odds and, for the third time in a month, climb out of the bottom four. They remain dangerously close to the drop zone but only three points from the top half. That’s how tight things are in a division which sees the strugglers beat the top dogs on an amazingly regular basis. In their previous away game, at Bristol Rovers, Athletic mastered the conditions by playing a more direct style which helped them avoid the puddles. This time, with a strong wind swirling round the ground, the obvious route was to keep the ball on the deck. And Athletic did it expertly. Though both strikers, Carlo Corazzin and Craig Dudley, thrive on lofted passes — one so he can win them in the air, the other to get behind defences — those balls were rarely hit from long range.

It was sensible, intelligent football and, allied to a tremendous work rate, too much for Stoke to handle. The Potters didn’t latch on to that gameplan, allowing centre-back Shaun Garnett to swallow up a succession of hopeful punts. Garnett was masterful throughout, while his partner in the middle, Scott McNiven, played at an unruffled pace and again showed that positioning is a key element of good defence. Both full-backs were equally strong, creating a formidable four-man unit for Athletic. But it wasn’t just at the back that they performed so well. Including substitute Mark Allott, this was a 12-man effort founded on an unquenchable thirst for success. Lee Duxbury set the example, inspiring his side with non-stop running and their 14th-minute winner. Duxbury is now the four-goal top scorer — not exactly a compliment to the strikers, each of whom have three, but a tribute to the skipper’s exemplary dedication and drive. Earlier this season, Athletic would have struggled to hold on after taking the lead so early in the game.

Here, they kept their discipline superbly and were never in much danger of being denied. For all the positives, they were helped considerably by the dismal display of their opponents. Stoke didn’t look remotely like a side chasing the play-offs and, by the end, were being jeered by the home crowd. On the other hand, Andy Ritchie’s men can take credit for making them look at best mediocre, at worst very poor. On this evidence, 19th place is a false position Athletic will improve upon if consistency — that vital but elusive attribute — can be maintained. The visitors only came under serious pressure at the start as Stoke attacked down the flanks and took all their set-pieces quickly. Despite that, it was Dudley who had the first chance, sending a free header straight at ’keeper Carl Muggleton from a David Eyres cross. In the seventh minute, Stoke threatened again through Graham Kavanagh’s 20-yard free-kick. The midfielder struck his shot sweetly, but Gary Kelly did well to grab it at the second attempt as enemy forces closed in. As the quarter-hour approached, Athletic swept into the lead with their first-ever goal at Stoke’s new home.

It originated on the right-hand side, with Dudley chasing down a pass and sending a curling cross to the far post. Corazzin headed it down and Duxbury, brushing his Canadian team-mate aside, hit a low 16-yard drive which Muggleton couldn’t quite keep out. Athletic were almost caught out two minutes later when Peter Thorne ghosted in on the blind side to send a header wide. The hosts, however, were very uncertain in defence. And Dudley had two half-chances after losing his marker with surprising ease. There was also a 40th-minute penalty appeal when Neil Adams was challenged just inside the box by Stefan Thordarson. Athletic were furious to be turned down, but their dismay was compounded when Adams failed to resurface and was carried back to the dressing room with a knee injury. He was replaced on the right by Allott, whose first contribution was a pass over the top which again stretched Stoke to their limits.

Dudley looked to have outpaced Brynjar Gunnarsson before hitting the ground in a heap. The verdict, once again, was no penalty. Stoke — surely given a half-time roasting — emerged from the break with greater composure and purpose. When their best chance did arrive, however, they couldn’t make it count. McNiven’s one real error was to misjudge a high ball and allow it to reach winger Bjarni Gudjonsson. With the goal at his mercy, albeit at a tight angle, Gudjonsson could only lift his shot against the bar. Nevertheless, Stoke were galvanised for a while, soon creating a headed chance for top-scorer Thorne. Yet Athletic refused to be dominated and, after 70 minutes, Eyres went desperately close to a second with a rasping shot from 35 yards. With all their substitutions made and 12,000 fans growing restless, Stoke looked increasingly short of ideas. Hope was fading equally fast as Athletic, still tackling as though their lives depended on it, stood resolutely firm. They even went close at the other end as Allott’s strong challenge set up Corazzin for a chip over the bar. Kelly was tested by another Thorne header, but Stoke wouldn’t have scored if they had played till midnight — and certainly not against a side as single-minded as Athletic.

ANDY RITCHIE believes simple hard labour is the secret of Athletic’s surge in form. Victory at Stoke completed back-to-back away wins for Ritchie’s men, who have now tasted success four times in six games. And the manager said: “Work rate is the reason we have started picking up points. “People are willing to work for each other and run for each other, and there’s a fair smattering of good football interspersed in that. “It has always been a good dressing room, with a few characters and jokers. That makes for a nice atmosphere and, at the moment, all the lads are keeping each other up. “Our away form has improved because we have started defending better. “We will keep getting the results if we stop other teams scoring because we always make our chances. And (against Stoke) we could have had a couple more goals. “Once we scored, I thought we played quite well, especially in the first half. “We should have had two penalties as well — the one when Craig Dudley went through was blatant. “Things like that can cost you games but, fortunately, it didn’t this time. “With us playing in the FA Cup next week and not having a league game for a while, it was important that we got this result.”

Ritchie was delighted with the way his side dug in to limit the home side to a handful of chances. He said: “We defended well and Stoke couldn’t hurt us. We knew they would play better after half-time, so we tried to keep the ball and kill the game a bit, which we did. “They were bound to have spells when they came at us, but we always looked strong at the back. “We had to keep our shape and concentration, which was a problem for us a while ago but not this time.” Athletic have taken 13 points from a possible 18 since David Eyres and Tony Carss arrived on free transfers. And Ritchie laughed: “They have both been asking the other lads how many points we’ve picked up since they came. And they have definitely given us stability. “But it isn’t just those two. The back four were excellent and I thought the two lads in the middle, Shaun Garnett and Scott McNiven, were towering.” 

Gudjon Thordarson, Stoke’s Icelandic manager, admitted Athletic were the better side on the day. He said: “We went for a fairly attacking team and I thought we would be strong enough to get something from the game. “We did okay for the first 15 minutes, but sloppy defending let Oldham into it and, after that, we weren’t brave enough. “We weren’t doing a proper job and we could have given another goal away. “From the back of the team to the top, we were never comfortable. We made it much too easy for their ’keeper.”

Teamtalk Oldham

Neil Adams is almost certainly out of the Latics' FA Cup first round tie against non-league Hednesford Town this weekend with a knee injury. The club turn their attentions away from league activity and towards Saturday's Cup clash against the Conference outfit. But the likely absence of Adams has not helped Andy Ritchie's preparation for the tricky encounter after the winger badly twisted his knee in the win over Stoke and had to be stretchered off. The veteran 34-year-old is now to see a specialist after he complained the joint was painful over the weekend and still very sore on Monday morning. Mark Allott, who came on as a substitute, played well in an unfamiliar role and he looks set to step in once again in Adams' place. Despite the news, Ritchie has made no special plans for the cup countdown and it will be training as usual all week. The Latics boss admitted: "I have watched them and so have the scouts and we have all done our homework. "They may be part-timers, but they have a few players with a lot of league experience and anybody who thinks it will be a walk-over can forget it."

Trialist Ossur Hansen returns to the Faroe Islands tomorrow but has been invited back to Boundary Park later in the season.
The player's dream of becoming the first Faroe Islander to play in English football is over for the time being after he spent a month on trial at the club. But despite Hansen's disappointment at returning home, he has at least the consolation of having another bite at the cherry later in the season. Boss Andy Ritchie said: "Ossur has been unlucky. We signed David Eyres and Tony Carss and the terrible weather we have had meant we couldn't get a proper look at him in match action. "We will have him back when, hopefully, the conditions will be much better." The Latics hope he will be joined next time by his international colleague, striker John Peterson. Meanwhile, another trialist, Leeds United's teenage defender Jason Lanns, will be put under the spotlight in Wednesday night's reserve team game at Burnley. The 19-year-old is still under contract at Elland Road but will play in two second string games while at Boundary Park.

Andy Ritchie was full of praise for centre backs Shaun Garnett and Scott McNiven following the impressive away win over promotion-fancied Stoke. The duo are forming a rock-like partnership in the middle of defence, and their efforts were vital in securing Saturday's surprise 1-0 win, the first time Stoke had been beaten at home since August 26. After watching his side stun the Britannia Stadium into silence with one of their best performances of the season, a delighted Ritchie said: "It was all us in the first half and although the second was a more even game, they still didn't hurt us. We snuffed them out." And speaking of the efforts from his star defensive duo, he added: "They were a tower of strength and didn't put a foot wrong from start to finish." The Latics' goal came from Lee Duxbury in the 15th minute and it took the skipper's tally to four for the season, helping the club notch their fourth win in six games and a clear sign that they are back on the up.

Official Oldham Athletic Web Site

Faroe Island international trialist Ossur Hansen will fly back home on Tuesday after spending the last four weeks at Boundary Park. Ossur has only been able to play one Reserve team game during the four weeks due to the severe weather, there were actually five reserve team games scheduled to take place during this period. Manager Andy Ritchie will not be making a move to sign the left sided midfielder particularly since the arrival of David Eyres and Tony Carss, both of whom have established themselves in the first team. However, he has not dismissed the possibility of Ossur returning later in the season along with John Peterson, the Faroe Island striker.

Latics are now in the build up programme for Saturday's important FA Cup first round game at Nationwide Conference club Hednesford where former Latics favourite Neil Poynton is their player/coach. Fans will remember that Latics featured in the FA Cup semi-final in 1994 and took Manchester United to a replay. Latics were leading 1-0 in the first game at Wembley thanks to a goal from Neil Poynton, but with only forty seconds of extra time remaining Mark Hughes scored to take the game to a replay. United won the replay 4-1 but it was Neil Poynton who again got the Latics goal at Maine Road that night, his only two goals of that season.

Latics have been allocated 300 seat tickets for Saturday's game at Keys Park and these tickets are currently on sale to season ticket holders and members who must produce voucher B at the main ticket office. Ticket prices are £13 adults and £6 concessions. Supporters travel is available by booking at Latique Sport and Leisurewear, executive coach travel is £10.50 return (£9.50 for Supporters Association members) and standard coach travel is available at £7 (£6.30 for Supporters Association members). Coaches depart from the rear of the Lookers Stand at 12 noon on Saturday.

Bristol Rovers midfielder Robert Trees, formerly a Manchester United trainee, has been given permission by Manager Andy Ritchie to train with Latics. Trees is currently on loan to Leigh RMI in the Nationwide Conference and rather than train two or three nights a week with the non-league club, Ritchie has extended an invitation to train full-time with Latics.

The squad includes five players who were not on the roster for the game against Panama on October 9. Mark Watson is back after serving a one-game suspension, while defenders Jason deVos and Tony Menezes return after sitting out the Panama game. Marc Bircham has recovered from a thigh injury which kept him out of action for six weeks while Garret Kusch returns to the World Cup team for the first time since appearing in a friendly against Trinidad and Tobago on May 27. Kusch recently scored five goals for his club team Mjallby in the Swedish First Division.

Name Position
Pat Onstad GK
Mike Franks GK
Kevin McKenna D
Mark Watson D
Jason deVos D
Tony Menezes D
Carl Fletcher D/M
Marc Bircham M
Jason Bent M
Nick Dasovic M
Paul Stalteri M
Daniel Imhof M
Jim Brennan M/F
Martin Nash M/F
Carlo Corazzin F
Garret Kusch F

Staff
Jim Fleming Head of delegation
Holger Osieck Head coach
Bruce Twamley Assistant coach
Kevin Muldoon Equipment Manager/Goalkeeping Coach
Greg Bay Physiotherapist
Gunther Hans Bruns Massage Therapist
Morgan Quarry Director of Communications/World Cup Team Manager