Soccer
Micky Mellon felt Oldham looked ‘tired’ after conceding late Fleetwood leveller
Oldham boss Micky Mellon admitted his side suffered a late energy failure as Fleetwood came from behind to snatch a 1-1 League Two draw.
The former Town manager also rued a missed chance by substitute Mike Fondop with the Latics in control following Kane Drummond’s first-half goal.
Substitute Ronan Coughlan steered in Shaun Rooney’s cross shot two minutes from time to cancel out Drummond’s strike.
“Michael missed a big chance to make it 2-0 at a time when we were in control,” said Mellon. “When you come here and get an opportunity to make it two you have got to take it.
“That seemed to be the start of us sagging back and accepting we were going to fight for one goal.
“Fleetwood fought themselves back into the game and we looked a bit tired which is disappointing.
“But it is a hard-fought point and backs up a great three points (over Swindon) at the weekend. We will take what we fought for.
“We wanted a bit more was towards the end and their subs made more of an impact than the ones we brought on.
“It made the difference for them as they looked lively for them up front.”
Oldham still haven’t won at Highbury in the league for 11 years and have now gone four successive games against the Fylde Coast side without a win.
But they were good value for their first-half advantage via Drummond’s first goal of the campaign.
They should have doubled the advantage but Fondop headed wide from Favour Fawunmi’s cross after an hour.
Under growing late pressure, Oldham were finally undone by Coughlan’s close-range finish while Rooney had a potential winner disallowed for a push on keeper Mathew Hudson.
“The lads are out on their feet,” said Fleetwood head coach Matt Lawlor. “We had a big spell in the first half and one towards the end which were good.
“The rest was much of a muchness. But we had to deal with a big, physical team. Part of our game is energy and when we lack that a bit it does seem to hurt us.
“But the subs had the impact we desired and brought the energy. We knew they would tire though in the last 20 minutes.
“Big bodies tire quicker than normal size bodies. So, I am glad our game plan came to fruition in the last 20 minutes.”
Lawlor was less than impressed with Oldham’s opener, started by a stray Finley Potter pass.
He added: “We gifted them the goal before half-time. It was a mistake but we can’t let them become two, three, four. But we fought back well at the end.”
