Harry Kewell takes positives from Notts County’s stalemate with Oldham

Posted Wednesday, November 07, 2018 by PA

Harry Kewell asserted that his Notts County side showed the type of fight they will need to turn their season around as they held Oldham Athletic to a goalless draw at Meadow Lane.

The Magpies avoided defeat at home for the first time since October 2 and had their defence to thank for keeping the Latics at bay as goalkeeper Ross Fitzsimons impressed with a string of fine saves.

Enzio Boldewijn struck the post in added time and County boss Kewell took heart as his side edged three points clear of the League Two relegation zone.

“It was a tough day at the office. We weren’t at our best – I’m not going to lie – but the positives I will take from it is that we defended well,” said the Magpies chief.

“From Ross (Fitzsimons) to (Jamie) Turley, to Bris (Shaun Brisley), to Wardy (Elliott Ward), we defended well and I think that shows a sign of strength that we are fighting for this.

“We are wanting to win but sometimes, we’ve just got to defend and we defended very well, and we could have maybe, in one or two little chances, nicked it.

“But again, I felt it was a tough performance. Oldham are a good team and I’m proud that we got the point.

“Maybe there were one or two sloppy passes that put us again on the defence but what I’m positive about is when we did lose (the ball).

“Look at the energy, the enthusiasm, the work-rate of my players, getting back and defending and putting their bodies on the line.”

Ishmael Miller was the first to be denied by Magpies goalkeeper Fitzsimons, while Andy Taylor saw his header from a Gevaro Nepomuceno corner cleared off the line by Jamie Turley.

The visitors recycled the ball and Nepomuceno crossed for Peter Clarke, whose attempt was spectacularly beaten away by Fitzsimons.

At the other end, Daniel Iverson denied both Boldewijn and Nathan Thomas before the former prodded a shot against the post at the death.

Oldham manager Frankie Bunn, whose team are 15th in the table, said: “First and foremost, I’m delighted with a clean sheet.

“Secondly, I thought the application, determination and the performance was very good, and thirdly, we couldn’t finish good approach work.

“It was a good performance away from home with a clean sheet, and all that was missing was a couple of goals. I’m not being biased there – it could have been three or four.

“The luck just doesn’t seem to be with us at the minute and you can’t fault any of the players.

“You can’t fault any single one of them because they all put everything in and we just need a goal.”