Dickov feels draw was defeat

Oldham manager Paul Dickov bemoaned his side's inability to defend set-pieces as they were pegged back and held to a draw by Colchester.

The Latics took a 37th-minute lead when Keanu Marsh-Brown forced in from two yards after Colchester keeper Ben Williams saved a Jean Yves Mvoto header. But they conceded from a free-kick when Anthony Wordsworth nodded home nine minutes from time, much to the displeasure of Dickov. "We knew it would be a battle because Colchester are a big, physical side. For the majority of the game we stood up to it, we played with discipline and we created better chances. Then it was the same old story, with us conceding a set-piece and not picking up the man who scored," he said. Dickov said the draw had felt like a loss and was left unable to explain why Oldham had stopped playing the way that was causing Colchester problems. "It feels like a defeat at the moment because we were pretty comfortable and our keeper hadn't had much to do. We knew our younger lads might tire but that's when you really need to switch on and make sure you get the basics right. We had been causing Colchester problems by sliding the ball in behind but for some reason we stopped doing that. Maybe I'll feel different after I've had time to reflect and watch the game again but we wanted a victory for the fans and I'm disappointed it's only a draw."