Maamria recognises importance of three points against Crawley

Posted Sunday, December 22, 2019 by PA

Dino Maamria hailed a massive three points for his side after they came from behind to clinch a 2-1 victory over Crawley.

David Wheater’s header from a Jonny Smith corner in the 49th minute was followed by a team move finished off by Mohammed Maouche nine minutes later, earning Oldham a win which pushes them up to 19th in the Sky Bet League Two table, level on points with the visitors.

“It was a huge win and I didn’t shy away from it either, having told the players beforehand that it was a must-win game,” said Oldham head coach Maamria.

“The last game we won here was Walsall and the last time we were at home was Leyton Orient, where we conceded a silly goal to draw the game.

“We had to learn from that and make sure of the win. We did that.

“I was disappointed with the goal in the first half after we had started OK. They scored from their first attack and we gave them too much space, not showing the intensity required.

“At half-time I said we had to be a lot stronger, close the gaps, defend properly and attack with more ambition.

“There is progress here, definitely, and we need what we need to do in terms of changing a few things in the transfer window in order to get the team we need in order to compete at the top end of the table where we should be.”

Crawley had taken the lead after 17 minutes, when Lewis Young danced his way in from the right flank before planting a left-footed strike beyond Zeus De La Paz.

The visitors looked bright but were downed by Maouche’s match-winner after Wheater levelled, though Tarryn Allarakhia was unlucky to see his shot deflect wide off the far post late on.

Crawley head coach John Yems said: “They played the same way in the second half, but we dealt with it better in the first half.

“They took their chances whereas we didn’t. We created the chances but we have got to start putting them away.

“We have got to move on. This highlights some of the problems the team has had over the last six months – which is not scoring goals.

“Good players do it all season and we are not consistent enough.

“We should have been further ahead at half-time, just as we should have scored more the week before and the week before that.

“You can only deal with what’s in front of you and that’s the disappointing thing, coming here and getting beaten. I don’t like losing.

“I feel gutted for the fans who came. The two goals we conceded were sloppy.

“You can’t keep missing chances, no matter what level you are at. If people have ambitions in the game, they have to start putting the ball in the back of the net.”