John McGreal takes positives after Colchester drop points at Oldham

Posted Sunday, September 23, 2018 by PA

Colchester boss John McGreal insisted it was a point gained for his team after they conceded twice in the last five minutes and were held to a 3-3 draw at Oldham.

Peter Clarke’s dramatic equaliser denied the U’s victory, but McGreal remained in positive mood after they maintained their unbeaten away run.

Colchester’s first two goals came from corners as Luke Norris volleyed in the 15th-minute opener before Harry Pell’s fine finish doubled the lead five minutes after the break.

Oldham replied when Sam Surridge converted Andy Taylor’s cross just before the hour mark, but Norris struck again with a low shot in the 68th minute.

The home side looked beaten, only for Surridge to glance in their second and Clarke to secure the draw with an 88th-minute header.

McGreal said: “It was a game with everything and we will look back on this as a valuable away point.

“Obviously you feel a bit disappointed not to win after being two goals up. I thought we could have seen it out, but we’ve taken something from a long and difficult trip.

“We had a lot of defending to do, but we knew this would be a really tough game because we’ve watched Oldham closely and their system has been fruitful.

“The disappointing things are to throw away a couple of points and the manner of the goals we conceded near the end.

“We gave away too many set pieces around our box, but conceding set piece goals hasn’t been the norm for us this season.

“At the other end we looked clinical when we had chances to score. Luke Norris is a strong and super-confident boy, so he will continue scoring goals if we keep him fit and sharpen him up.”

After their fightback earned a point, Oldham manager Frankie Bunn said: “I feel emotionally wrecked, but we always believed and we deserved something in the end.

“We had such spirit and determination. I commend the players for that and it was great to see the supporters believing in us by staying until the last minute.

“To come from behind in that way was terrific. A bit of quality was missing here and there, but that’s the sort of determination we are trying to promote at the club.

“Personally I think we should have taken more than a point, but we are improving and we’ve built on our great win at Grimsby last week.

“I don’t like us conceding from set pieces but – at the same time – it’s pleasing to score from two of our own near the end.

“It took me back 30 years to when I was playing here, Oldham were on the Astroturf and there were goals galore at both ends.”