Murray praises Ellison
Schoolboy Ryan Ellison won fulsome praise from reserve-team manager Paul Murray for the part he played in Latics reserves' victory at Stockport County in the Manchester Senior Cup.Murray was impressed by the bottle shown by the 16-year-old who volunteered to take a penalty in the shootout decider.
Central-defender Ellison scored the fourth and what proved to be the decisive penalty for Latics who won 4-2 after the game ended 1-1 after 90 minutes.
Murray said: "Ryan played very well and in the second half his performance was immense.
"It was fitting he scored the winning penalty and fair play to the lad for stepping forward and saying he wanted to take one."
Murray explained the difference the first and second-half displays were like chalk and cheese.
He said: "It was the game of two halves. In the first we didn't show enough desire and enthusiasm and it was not good enough. It was the poorest we had been for some time.
"Paul Gerrard and myself had a chat at half time and had similar views of what was wrong. In the second half we were a lot better."
Murray was delighted with the goal scored by Carlton McIntosh who began the move and finished it with a terrific strike.
He was disappointed with the free kick conceded which led to Stockport's equaliser, a close-range header from Alex Kenyon.
"It was a poor free kick, but the delivery was good and sometimes you have to hold up your hands," he said.
He was disappointed with the free kick conceded which led to Stockport's equaliser, a close-range header from Alex Kenyon.
"It was a poor free kick, but the delivery was good and sometimes you have to hold up your hands," he said.