Hill talks after Oldham home game

First team manager Keith Hill provided his reaction to iFollow Iron after his side's narrow 1-0 home loss to Oldham Athletic.

A late winner decided the game between League Two's bottom two clubs, and Hill said: "It's a difficult afternoon and scoreline. I thought we started the game bright and I've got to say the atmosphere was superb and the supporters were magnificent all the way through the game, but we couldn't deliver the three points or at least a point that we deserved from it.

"We had to withstand a bit of pressure in the second half, which is understandable because we've brought players to the club who need game time and minutes, and were probably waning a little bit on the energy levels.

"Taking all things into consideration it's a bad result, a part-positive performance but it's going to be difficult for us to be successful if we keep conceding from set-plays. We can practice, practice, practice and deliver the message of what's necessary, but we can't keep getting undone. The players have to accept responsibility for those roles and they have to be supercharged concentration-wise to make sure we keep the ball out of the back of the net. Unfortunately for the second game in succession we've fallen foul of a set-play.

"It's hard for me to go in there and batter the players because we've been beaten. I have to support those players and give them confidence. That was a difficult afternoon from a pressure point of view from young players like Harry Lewis for example. It looked like a nervous display from him. He's very good in possession and today it looked a little bit nervy and pressurised. I'll support him through that because he's brave.

"A very close friend of mine said the bookmakers don't get it wrong. 'You're 9/1 favourites to get relegated and you can't get a bet on you anywhere to stay up'. We have to believe we can stay up but we have to take care of games like that and make sure we get at least a point. We're getting the new players up to speed quickly but that's the difficulty of the situation we're in. It's been a bad day but we've got to keep believing and create our own positive environment, and fight the rest of the world.

"You learn a lot about people when things aren't great. The players weren't hiding on the pitch and I can't ask for more effort. We're all disappointed emotionally with the result, especially when we're in the mire like we are, but you can't implode and fight each other. You have to stay united.

"I know it's difficult for a supporter listening to me rabbling on about the same message all the time but eventually it breaks, and when you reach rock bottom you bounce and become stronger, more robust for the next game. That match is the last game of our past and the first game of our future is on Tuesday night, and we've got to make sure we see it as a future."

He concluded: "The atmosphere was amazing and I thank the supporters. They've turned up, they've encouraged and tried to stay with the players and it's very difficult being a fan if your team is losing. They've got to see the crumbs of comfort. There's a real plan and identity trying to be struck. They might not be able to see it, and might think I'm stupid but trust me, we're trying to build for the future, and that starts on Tuesday night."