FORMER Latics boss Lee Johnson said Sunderland "didn't do enough", causing their Papa John's Trophy exit at the hands of his old club.

The Black Cats were the defending champions after winning the competition last season, but Johnson explained they had taken a different approach to it this year and had instead used it as a means of blooding some of the club's younger players.

Equally, Oldham interim head coach Selim Benachour had leaned on some of the club's younger players, with Benny Couto restored to the line-up after illness and Harry Vaughan making his first senior appearance in almost a month, going on to score the only goal in a 1-0 win for Latics at the Stadium of Light.

“We didn’t do enough to win, clearly not," said Johnson.

"We’ve used this competition differently this year. We’ve used it to try to blood some young players, and I think it’s worked well.

"There have been players that have stepped in, and we’ve been able to give some senior players minutes. We’ve also used it to give the staff the opportunity to work in and around the first team, which has worked well. The Academy staff have stepped up, and I think they’ve enjoyed that and we’ve enjoyed that process as well. But the reality is we needed to be much better than we are and we were.

"To be fair, it wasn’t a lack of effort, it was just a lack of quality in terms of us needing more and needing to develop more. It’s a challenge for us."

Johnson added: “I think there’s been some wasted opportunities. When we send a Sunderland side out, we want to send it out with personality – that doesn’t matter whether it’s Under 12s, Under 23s or first team. Not enough of that was on show.

"They (Oldham) were probably better than us, a bit more experienced and stronger.

"We made subs because we had to and probably got weaker in the game, maybe they got a bit stronger. But what we must do is give ourselves the best opportunity to get in that top two this season. I honestly felt it wouldn’t have been conducive to doing that by playing senior players I’m going to pick on Saturday in this game.

"I’m disappointed for them (the players) because we all wanted them to do well. They worked really well, but inevitably, you’ll find your level as a player. We’ve got to give them every opportunity, and whether they’re good enough for here, or lower or higher, you find your level in the end."