Oldham 2-2 Grimsby: Latics have a fear of winning says boss

Filipe Morais, currently on loan from Crawley, marked his return to Boundary Park in style by celebrating his second home debut for the club with a goal, after Christopher Missilou had given the hosts the lead in the first half.

But substitute Jordan Cook pulled one back for Grimsby late on, with Ludvig Ohman stealing a share of the spoils at the end of the 90 minutes.

“I think we played well and played better than we have done recently, but the problem is that we’ve got a fear of winning and we’ve got to concentrate more in the last five minutes to see the game out,” said Banide.

“After being 2-0 up we must close the game out. We have to learn faster because after every game we’re frustrated and it’s difficult to be frustrated every game. I feel the same as the players. 

“We played too much football and when we play too much we open up the space for the opposition. Because of that we’ve given the game away and it’s a bad result.”

Banide made a solitary change from last week’s 2-2 draw at Plymouth, Desire Segbe Azankpo returning to the starting line-up for the first time in four games to lead the line.

The game burst into life straight away with both sides having chances to take the lead.

The Latics were let off twice early on as Grimsby top scorer James Hanson and Elliott Whitehouse both fired over the bar in the opening five minutes.
Down the other end Missilou missed the target with an acrobatic effort as the hosts started to find their feet.

But the Frenchman made no mistake in the 19th minute as he broke the deadlock, Mohamed Maouche’s corner knocked on by Tom Hamer for Missilou to sweep home his second of the season.

Dylan Fage and Azankpo both failed to trouble James McKeown in the Grimsby net as the Latics pushed for a second.

Former Bradford marksman Hanson could only nod Luke Hendrie’s cross over the bar in response for the visitors.

Just after the hour-mark the visitors could only half clear Morais’ cross into the path of Johan Branger, who powerfully volleyed over.

Morais then bagged his first goal since his return in only his second game, after being expertly found by Azankpo at the back post.

Grimsby looked for a response and down the other end Gary Woods made a fine save to keep out Moses Ogbu.

Morais nearly bagged a brace but was denied by McKeown, and that save proved vital as the Mariners pulled one back with nine minutes remaining.

Hanson failed to connect sweetly, but Cook was on hand to spare his blushes to halve the deficit.

Morais was then frustrated by McKeown one-on-one right at the death when he could have put the game to bed, and Oldham were haunted by their missed chances as Ohman nodded home a long free-kick in the dying embers.

“We played better but we’ve only got a point,” Banide added. “The problem is this result isn’t good. We’re happy because we saw more from the team, but we need points.

“It’s important to concentrate all the way until the end of the game. Grimsby scored in the last five minutes because we weren’t concentrating and that’s football, you get punished.

“We played well in the first half and we needed to continue that, we should have won the game - at 2-0 if we score another goal then we finish the game off.

“It’s not a good atmosphere in the changing room because we’re very frustrated.”

Oldham: Gary Woods 5, Tom Hamer 7, David Wheater 6, Alex Iacovitti 5, Dylan Fage 5, Chris Missilou 6, Filipe Morais 7 (Zak Mills, 90+1 6), Mohamad Sylla 5, Mohamed Maouche 5, Johan Branger 5 (Jonathan Smith, 78 5), Desire Segbe Azankpo 6
Unused subs: Gregor Zabret, Jamie Stott, Chris Eagles, Scott Wilson, Urko Vera

Grimsby: James McKeown, Luke Hendrie, Luke Waterfall, Ludvig Ohman, Liam Gibson (Jordan Cook, 64), Elliott Hewitt (Ethan Robson, 82), Jake Hessenthaler, Elliott Whitehouse, Max Wright (Charles Vernam, 70), James Hanson, Moses Ogbu
Unused subs: Sam Russell, Harry Cardwell, Matt Pollock, Harry Clifton

Referee: Sam Purkiss

Attendance: 3,789 (783)