Caretaker manager Pete Wild says once again his side lack some know-how in the final third as Latics fell to a 2-1 defeat at MK Dons last night.
A penalty apiece from Chuks Aneke and Kieran Agard condemned Latics to a third straight defeat, despite Tom Hamer pulling a goal back with a wonderful strike.
Wild was upset with the lack of intensity his team showed which is ultimately why the squad came away with nothing.
“It was a really strange game, I thought the whole game had no real intensity to it and it was played like a testimonial by both sides.” He said.
“We just didn't have any intensity about ourselves, we started poorly, gave the penalty away then it's an uphill struggle from there.
“At half time we demanded more with and without the ball which we got in fairness, but then if you think you're in it and give the second penalty away.
“We get ourselves back in the game, but then we don't make the possession count and we never really tested their goalkeeper at 2-1.”
Latics were the makers of their own downfall after conceding two penalties at poor times during the game.
Wild had no complaints with either decision, but he says a freekick leading up to the first penalty shouldn’t have been given to the home side.
“I was frustrated in the freekick that lead to the first penalty, I thought it was never a freekick and I told the referee that at half time.” He commented.
“I thought they were both penalties so there's no complaints there, but the freekick before the first one was a poor decision.”
Latics did have chances in the game at one-nil, but Urko Vera and Mohamed Sylla were denied by a great save and some heroic defending.
However, Wild says that the side have to make it count in the final third otherwise they’ll struggle to win games.
He also believes that the players have to re-discover some confidence going forward.
“We had chances to equalise at one-nil, but we lacked conviction in the box all night and if people were a bit braver, we'd score more goals.
“I thought we were good for a point tonight at least, but we just didn't get it.
“We're lacking confidence and we're lacking conviction in the box.
“We used the ball a bit better tonight which was pleasing to see, but now we've got to have some conviction with the ball and take our chances.”
On a positive note, Latics started the game with three youth academy products in the back four.
Jamie Stott returned from his loan at Stockport County on Monday morning and Wild says he proved a point last night.
“I thought the back four did well, Jamie has proved to everyone tonight that he can play at this level.
“I thank Stockport for all their hard work in getting him ready for this level, so the future is bright, we've got some good young players here and hopefully we can get some more in.”
Up next for Latics is a home game against struggling Morecambe this Saturday.
Wild is hoping to get the team back on the training ground in order to find some needed confidence ahead of the game Saturday.
“We need to find some confidence and we need to start playing with a bit of belief.
“Until we do that we'll struggle, so we need to get back in training, work hard and find some confidence.”