Lee Duxbury felt his side were unlucky to at least not get on the scoresheet as they lost out 3-0 at home to Leicester City last night.

Billy McKay grabbed a brace before Ricky Sappleton hit a third deep into first-half stoppage time, and the hosts couldn't break through despite having the better of the play after the break.

However, Duxbury was critical of his side's defending in the first half as they gave themselves what proved to be an insurmountable mountain to climb.

But the reserve team boss did identify two bright spots in the performances of Michael Ricketts and Aaron Chalmers.  Ricketts, 28, looked neat and tidy up front and was unlucky not to score, while sixteen-year-old Chalmers produced another all-action display in the middle of the park.

"There was too much of a gap between the defence and midfield in the first half and they played round us," Duxbury told oldhamathletic.co.uk after the game.

"We sorted that at the break and were unlucky not to score in the second half.  I'm disappointed because we went on to be the better side but it was too easy for them to score in the first half.

"We created chances, and Michael Ricketts had an excellent game and gave us a bit of quality on the ball.  Meanwhile the other lads playing to gain fitness [JP Kalala and Reuben Hazell] also did well.

"Aaron Chalmers also had a good game and he needs to play to his strengths.  I've played the box-to-box game he does for 20 years and just won the ball then gave it to John Sheridan, Gordon Cowans or whoever I was partnered with.

"He does that kind of thing well and needs to concentrate on the strong side of his game."

The result sees Latics rooted to the bottom of the Pontin's League Central division, but Duxbury isn't overly concerned about their league placing.

He said: "I'll say the same as when we were top of the league last year -- the reserves exist for one purpose, and that is to help the lads who are on the bench, the players coming back from injury and the youngsters.

"This year will give the younger players an opportunity to progress against better opposition."