POLLY PENSIVE AFTER LOSS

Keeper takes positives after night of cup heartbreak

Mike Pollitt was in reflective mood last night after Latics FA Cup run ended with a disappointing 1-0 fourth round loss to Bolton Wanderers at the DW Stadium.
 The defeat was frustrating for Pollitt but the keeper believes there were many positives to be gleaned from a game that otherwise gave little cheer for Latics faithful, especially the opportunity afforded the younger players to show the gaffer what they can do.
 “We’re obviously disappointed with the result,” he said, “but it gave everyone a chance to show the manager what we can do.
 “For lads like myself it gives us game time and a good opportunity to get into the gaffer’s reckoning, but it wasn’t to be tonight.”

The visitors had been fortunate to take the tie into the replay after Latics had performed magnificently at the Reebok Stadium two weeks ago, but Pollitt believes they probably deserved the victory last night: “We managed to do well in the first tie but it was always going to be tough tonight,” he said, “and all credit to Bolton as I think they deserved it.”
 “If you look at the two sides Bolton were all premier league players who play week in, week out but the lads who came in for us have done well as some of us haven’t played for a while.
 “It was difficult and looking back over the game then Bolton probably deserved it. They had two goals disallowed, hit the post, had a few shots I’ve saved, so if you’re looking at chances then the best side probably won on the night.”

Latics almost grabbed an equaliser when Jordi Gomez smashed a shot onto the Bolton crossbar mid-way through the second-half and Pollitt said: “We managed a little a counter-attack, I saw Franco running off and I managed to get it forward and into the box where it fell for Jordi, it would have been a good goal for us but it wasn’t to be.

“It would have given us a chance in the fifth round if we had won but it would have been difficult going down to Fulham but you never know, there’s always the chance to progress in the competition.”

Despite the disappointing cup exit Pollitt believes the team will re-group and can now focus on the fight for Barclays Premier League survival: “The other players came in tonight and have shown the manager what they have,” he said, “there is still eleven games left in the league campaign and we’ve got to give it everything we’ve got.
“We’re going to need all the bodies we have between now and the end of the season and hopefully we can work hard as a team and get the points to push us up the table and on to safety.”


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