JOHN Sheridan admitted he was "down" after Latics slipped to a fifth consecutive defeat, but has vowed to maintain the fight to keep the club in the Football League.

Second-bottom Oldham had hoped to take advantage of their game in hand and get out of the bottom two, but it was a routine win for Sutton United, who scored three and could have had more.

Will Sutton headed in a late consolation for his second goal in three games. But there was little sign of a comeback from a side smarting from injuries and suspensions.

"Life's just very difficult at the moment. We're not winning games are we, that's five now," said Sheridan.

"We told the players what we expected they (Sutton) were going to do and they did exactly what they've been doing all season and they're good at it - a big, strong outfit, put balls up there early and get you on the back foot.

"I thought we actually started the game not too badly, leading up to the goal. It's just typical of our luck isn't it, a clearance from Benny (Couto), kicks it against him and it ends up in the back of the net.

"But I look at the team and I knew without the physical presence of (Harrison) McGahey and Harty (Sam Hart) and Pidge (Carl Piergianni), especially in this game, I knew we would probably have one or two more problems.

"I'm not angry, I just get so frustrated watching people trying to do things on the pitch.

"It's just difficult to watch at times, the decisions we make, it's just a bit of game know-how. I'm sick and tired of saying it and people probably get bored of me saying the same old things."

But the Latics head coach added: "I've just got to try to lift them as much as I can. I'm down myself. Five defeats, after where we started, that is relegation form.

"We've just got to believe that we've still got fight in us and we've got to lift ourselves somehow."