Former Oldham Athletic manager Lee Johnson came back to haunt his old side as Barnsley brushed aside the 10-man Latics 3-1.
Lewin Nyatanga and Conor Hourihane put Barnsley 2-0 up before Mike Jones pulled one back just before the break to give Oldham hope .
But Nyatanga’s second and Latics captain Adam Lockwood’s late dismissal put the game to rest, frustrating interim manager Dean Holden.
“We are playing ourselves out of games at the moment, that’s the biggest problem,” he said.
“We have played well today. We have been the better team on the day.
“It is about that one v one battle all over the pitch, and making sure at set pieces especially that you win that one and unfortunately at the minute we are losing too many of them.”
Adam Lockwood was shown a second yellow late in injury time and is now suspended along with defender Brian Wilson who was sent off in last week’s 2-1 defeat to bottom side Yeovil Town.
Oldham have now lost three of Holden’s four games, and five of the last six, and the former Latics captain admitted he and side needed to exercise greater self-control.
“I’ve had to learn how to manage my emotions,” he conceded.
“My emotions were tested when Adam Lockwood was shown a second yellow. It’s a decision that has gone against us again, but that’s not why we lost the game.
“We had the best chances in the game and unfortunately we have been on the wrong end of three set pieces, and we have lost the game because of that.
“Discipline is becoming a bit of an issue – we need to look at that. There’s another suspension. We have not got many players as it is.”
Lee Johnson left the Latics on February 25 guiding the Tykes to four wins out of four – in stark contrast to struggling Oldham’s recent run of form.
“It was fantastic to get the win but it wasn’t easy being back here because it was very raw,” he said.
“It was a mixed reception but I understand, I still don’t think people know the full story of me leaving.
“I don’t think the game was that good, but we put in a professional performance, scored from two set pieces and it’s good to get the win.”
Main image courtesy of Official OAFC via YouTube, with thanks.
