Leam pleased with reaction to Wednesday’s defeat, despite 2-1 reverse against Lincoln City.

Leam Richardson | “The character and application deserved more”
Richardson says the reaction he and the staff demanded was evident in a whole-hearted Latics performance
Richardson: “The character - especially after midweek - and the application and the way we played I felt we deserved more out of the game. If we had drawn, would we have been disappointed? Probably, but to lose is very disappointing.”

Leam Richardson says he was pleased with his side’s reaction to Wednesday’s defeat to Hull City and he felt Latics’ performance deserved more as they went down 2-1 to Sky Bet League One leaders Lincoln City on Saturday afternoon.

Reflecting post-match with Latics TV, Richardson said:

“The result is disappointing and we’re in an elite business where results are everything and we’re totally aware of that. The character - especially after midweek - and the application and the way we played I felt we deserved more out of the game. If we had drawn, would we have been disappointed? Probably, but to lose is very disappointing.

“There were a few messages to the players this week. The group has been thrown together and there was a stat this week where the football club, in this league, has used the most players. We’ve had different teams together throughout the season but it’s not an excuse and we don’t have time for excuses. What we do have time for is fight in our bellies to come together as people and fight for those wins and results that we need to keep this fantastic football club in this division.

“For teams like Lincoln today - when they don’t play as well as they usually do - they end up getting over the line and grinding out the result. Whereas we’ll put a performance together at the minute and we don’t get a win and that can be concerning. I think if you chase that desire and fight for the same cause then you’ll possibly get the results that you need.

“The one thing I’ve been brought up on in football is if you walk out of that game and everyone has given it their all and can’t give anymore then they can sleep better and live with the result no matter what it was. Wednesday was totally different to today and there is a lot of respect in there, hard work and disappointment with the result but we’ll certainly role our sleeves up as we have another game on Tuesday and we’ll do our best to go again.”

Callum Lang opened the scoring for Latics with a wonderful 25-yard strike and Richardson says it was a goal that really deserved to win the game for his side.

“The individual piece of quality [from Callum] is worthy of winning any game so it’s disappointing on his behalf,” he said. “I thought he ran himself into the ground as I thought a lot of them did.

“We had a few questions thrown at us after midweek with everything surrounding us. Performance-wise I thought the lads answered that. With all due respect and myself included, that’s the level we have to go at until the end of the season if we want to remain in this division.”

Leam confirmed Chris Merrie will be assessed after coming off at half-time with a hamstring injury.

He says it is important now that everyone stays together with a siege mentality to keep Latics in League One.

“You can’t be an individual,” Leam said. “Individuals in team sport die. It’s about teamwork, team ethic, team spirt and the fan base coming together.

“Pulling everyone together with one cause, going in that one direction is how you get results and that’s what we have to do.”

Leam Richardson | “The character and application deserved more”