Manager John Sheridan is only too aware of the pattern emerging from his side's home games.

Latics have taken the lead at home only once this season in the league, conceding the first goal on the other five occasions.  They have only managed to come back from a deficit against Crewe (2-0 to 3-2), and have lost the other four games by a single goal.

Northampton were the latest team to come away with a 1-0 win, Alex Russell's stunning goal proving enough to kill off Athletic after the hosts missed a host of first-half opportunities.  With chances going begging, the scene seemed set for a winner at the other end -- a fact acknowledged by the gaffer.

"I'm repeating myself, but the game should have been over at half time, or at least been a lot easier," Sheridan blazed.  "It's funny, because I could read the script.  We go in well on top, the goalkeeper's had nothing to do and Craig [Davies] and Rico [Michael Ricketts] should have both scored.

"But by going in at 0-0 the other team get a bit of relief, a rollicking from their manager and come at us in the second half -- then we start doing silly things and play a different game.

"I told [the players] where we would hurt them, but whether they take it on board or not I don't know.  I don't think some people are listening, and if they're not they will find themselves out of the team."

Russell found the net with his first touch after coming on as a 65th-minute substitute, scoring the winner with his side's first shot on target of the entire game.  The goal left Sheridan disappointed that his side had left themselves open to the sucker punch:

"It's a great strike from the lad and you can't take that away from him, but I'd said at half time I was disappointed we weren't at least a goal up," the Boundary Park chief said.  "We should raise our game another 10% -- after all, we're the home team -- and we should be taking the game to them and playing it simple.  I go on at them about keeping things simple -- we make everything look so difficult.

"At the end of the day I'll keep on going and going, and I don't mind criticism.  I expect people to be upset, and I'm upset because we had a good season last year and I want to do better this year.

"But we're not and don't look like doing so, so I need to sort it out and that's down to me. I will take any criticism whatsoever."

Shez was also disappointed with his side's reaction to the Cobblers' goal, with the hosts failing to create any real chances despite switching to a three-pronged strike force.  Despite struggling for wins, the boss is remaining upbeat and has pledged to sort out the situation and get Athletic back on the right track -- even if that means a number of changes.

He said: "For some reason we go to the long ball tactic and hoof balls in there instead of working hard to get Chris Taylor taking people on, to get the ball to Andy Liddell and to get crosses into the box.  We just start hoofing it, and no-one's telling the players to do that.

"We didn't create too much in the second half because we don't react and don't pick off anything that comes out.

"We need to sort it out, and some players are in their own little world and I will be sorting that out.  I've told people in the dressing room that I can only talk so much -- if they haven't got the balls then I can't give them that; I need them to show a little bit.

"If they haven't got them then they need to get them, because I want to have players in the team who have the nous to get on the ball and get things done."

John Sheridan was talking to Stu Vose on Latics World -- the club's exclusive online TV service. Click here to find out more about signing up.

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