ROUGHYEDS will move heaven and earth over the next few weeks to put right the wrongs of Sunday night in their performance against Lock Lane.
Coach Stuart Littler and his assistant Brendan Sheridan have about 20 sessions with the players before the start of the Betfred League One season with the visit of Keighley Cougars to the Vestacare Stadium on Mothers’ Day, March 27.
The club has already apologised for what was described as “an embarrassing night.”
Said Stuart:
“I don’t shy away from responsibility and as head coach I suppose it’s down to me. I’ll stand up and take it.
“Fans can rest assured that Shez (Sheridan) and myself, the backroom staff and the players will do everything we can to be at the right standard for the start of the league programme.
“We’ll be working hard with the staff this week to put things right.
“With so many new players, and difficulties surrounding how to peak for the Challenge Cup and how to peak again for the start of the League programme several weeks later, we weren’t exactly sure how things would go in only our second run-out.
“We know now — and on a bitterly disappointing night that was at least something.”
Sheridan, meanwhile, spoke to fans with his comments on social media.
He said:
“Now the dust has settled, there’s a lot of negativity around our club, players and staff. Our boys are semi-professional with families, work and other commitments.
“They work exceptionally hard each week, but no-one sees the work that goes on from top to bottom of the club.
“What you also have to do in sport is accept it when a better team (on the day) wins. Lock Lane were outstanding in handling the occasion like professionals.
“An amateur side can still apply themselves with professionalism, dedication and a desire to win at all costs.
“Lock Lane did that and thoroughly deserved their way into round three.
“That is no reflection on our players’ efforts, dedication or commitment to the club. Sometimes it just isn’t your night. Credit to Lock Lane and best wishes to them for the next round.
“To our fans thanks for your continued support.”
Littler added:
“We let ourselves down in a lot of areas, particularly in the way we struggled to get to the end of sets.
“We completed at 45 per cent in the first half and we spoke at half-time about the need to do better. In fact, we finished we six completions out of 18 sets — 33 per cent.
“You don’t win matches with figures like that.
“We did some good things in defence and kept them pinned in their own half or quarter for long periods, but all credit to Lock Lane, who got to the end of their sets really well and then had a kicker who had a fair boot on him.
“We have to be far better in completing our sets. The one positive to come out of this performance is that we now need for sure what needs to be done.
“We’ll be working hard with the staff this week to put things right and I’ll be having a deep conversation with Shez.
“We have to get back to hitting standards - my personal targets and the standards expected of any Oldham team.”
