JOHN Sheridan said he would shoulder the responsibility for defeat at home to his former club, Chesterfield.

The Spireites arrived at Boundary Park on the back of a six-game unbeaten start to the season, with four wins and two draws putting them top of the National League.

With that in mind Latics were already braced for a tough game. But they conspired to shoot themselves in the foot by conceding after just 34 seconds, following a mistake by goalkeeper Magnus Norman that gifted Joe Quigley an early goal, before an unmarked Jeff King doubled the lead in the seventh minute.

Latics failed to recover from the double early blow, particularly after losing Dan Gardner just after the half-hour with a groin problem.

The influential midfielder has been added to an ever increasing injury list that includes captain Liam Hogan, and has contributed to the club's early season woes, but Sheridan said: "I'm the manager, I'm not going blame anyone else. I pick the team, I pick the shape of the team. When it doesn't work I'll take the blame, when it works everyone gets the credit.

"That's just the way it is.

"I wish I was still playing. I just want players to be hungry, because there's no better feeling when you go home after a Saturday win, everyone enjoys their weekend miles better and you come in and start again on Monday. But now you've got to reflect and it's a downer because of the performance.

"The start was a killer to be fair. You go out and within a minute of the game and the manner of the goal, and then the second goal comes quite quickly. They're 2-0 up, we're chasing the game and leaving spaces and it's difficult.

"I think we're as good as any team in the league but our performances and results aren't showing that.

"Chesterfield were very professional, got the goals at the right time. I'm not saying we got beat because of a first minute goal because there's still 89 minutes but it didn't help the situation."

Sheridan added: "It was a disappointing performance but obviously the start we get off to is a massive downer so early in the game.

"You prepare all week but it was massive downer at the start of the game and I don't think we recovered from it.

"I'm the manager, I pick the team, I've brought some players in - I'd like to say the three young lads who played were excellent. Three new lads, lots of endeavour, lots of desire, they're on loan but they're showing willingness to fight and fight and fight.

"I'm bringing people in who I think are good players but we're not playing or performing the way we should.

"I pick the team, I pick the players, then they go out on the pitch. They have to make decisions, the game is fast, they've got to make better decisions all over the pitch. It's down to the players.

"I take the blame because I pick the team, I've brought the players in but, once they cross the white line, we have to do better.

"I'm not kicking the ball, I'm not controlling the ball, I'm not running. We need to do a lot better, no excuses."