Oldham boss Wellens accuses players of lacking heart after relegation

Oldham manager Richie Wellens accused some of his players of lacking “heart and desire” after they were relegated to League Two with Saturday’s final day 2-2 draw at Northampton.

The Latics would have stayed up with victory but, despite taking the lead through George Edmundson, they could only manage a draw at Sixfields and that sent them down due to Rochdale’s win over Charlton.

The Cobblers, who were also relegated on the same afternoon, levelled through Matt Grimes’ penalty before a close-range finish from Ash Taylor gave them the lead at half-time, only for Thomas Haymer to peg them back.

Wellens said: “We started well but it was a ridiculous mistake to give the penalty away and then their lad has a shot from 20 yards and the goalkeeper’s just got to push it around the post but he drops it and they put it in the net.

“We responded really well but we conceded two really, really poor goals.

“I thank the players in the dressing room because the majority of them give absolutely everything in training.

“There are some players that let the group down and, all in all, it’s probably cost us. The players who are successful at this level have character and they show heart and desire. That’s what the Oldham fans want but it’s just a shame that some don’t do that.

“We’ve made too many individual mistakes throughout the season and that’s why we’re in this position, and I think the injuries have caught up with us as well because we’ve got a lot of players out.

“It’s just really hard for me to speak at the moment.”

Northampton caretaker manager Dean Austin, who did not comment on whether he wants the job on a full-time basis, reflected on a frustrating end to a disappointing season.

He said: “I’m very proud of the boys with the effort and the application and the desire they showed. It’s been a difficult week mentally after last Saturday because it’s hard to go through but they’ve given everything.

“I was disappointed not to win today because I thought we should have won it although it ebbed and flowed a little bit.

“I was disappointed with their second goal because it started from a free-kick that wasn’t a free-kick. The Oldham player was backing in and backing in and then just fell over.

“It cost us an extra two points but I don’t want to talk about referees every week. We started the second half really well, we were on the front foot and looked like we’d go and score the third goal.

“But they got the free-kick and the ball’s in the net so sometimes you need a little bit of help with the decisions.”