HARRY Kewell believes Latics’ contrasting fortunes at either end of the field show the difficult balance he is trying to strike between attack and defence.

The former Leeds and Liverpool ace has made no secret of his desire to get his Oldham side playing free-flowing football on the front foot – and the results are clear to see.

Only Exeter, 41, have scored more than Latics’ 37 League Two goals this season. The problems have however come heading in the other direction. 

The 41 goals against is the highest in the division with second-bottom Grimsby the nearest challengers to that unwanted accolade on 40.

That record means Latics have kept just one clean sheet this season, that not coming until December 29 in the 0-0 draw, ironically, at Grimsby.

Kewell insists seeing more goals in games is the modern way and wants to stick to his footballing principles despite seeing his side come up short against some more physical and experienced fourth tier outfits who play a more rigid style.

“Ideally every match you would love to get a clean sheet and then you’re at least going home with a point,” the Latics boss told the Oldham Times.

“Unfortunately in this day and age, the way that teams play, we’re very open, we’re very attacking, very offensive, people leave wide players right up, people leave two up.

“It’s very hard now to come away with a clean sheet and if you do concentrate too much on the clean sheet you’re not going to be in the half where you score goals.

“It’s a 50-50 where you have to manage both. If you can keep a clean sheet then fantastic but like I said, I think football nowadays is quite open and we’re seeing a lot more goals go in.

“It is interesting to see and sometimes you’ve just got to hope you score more goals than the opposition.”

Kewell is well aware though that however entertaining his Latics are, he will ultimately be judged on results.

Latics are in a congested midfield pack in League Two ahead of hosting high-flying Newport County at Boundary Park on Saturday.

“The most important thing is getting the three points at the end of the day,” Kewell said. 

“You can play great football, everything can go to plan, but if the ball doesn’t go in the back of the net, it hits the bar, it hits the post then you also need that little bit of luck.

“We just have to keep continuing working hard and our opportunities will come.”