Source: FOOTYMAD
Latics bow out of cup
penalty shoot-out seals first round exit The Latics bowed out of the Carling Cup after a penalty-shootout against Carlisle United. Their bad cup run continued and another first round exit had to be endured by the 1,700 supporters who went to Boundary Park. The Latics had enough chances before Reuben Reid scored from the penalty spot. The spot kick was given after Dean Furman was brought down in the box by Liam Noble. Keeper Alex Cisak had a useful game and made some important saves but he couldn't do much about the equalising goal in the 57th minute after Zander Diamond conceded a free kick for a foul on Chris Curran. Jon-Paul McGovern scored a beauty with a 30-yard free kick which went into the top left corner after eluding the defensive wall. The game went into extra time and Smith was unlucky to see his header smash against the crossbar. Minutes later he volleyed the ball over. Substitute Josh Parker almost won it at the death when he beat the keeper but watched agonisingly as the ball landed on the roof of the net. Carlisle won 4-2 on penalties when Taylor and Parker both had their shots saved. Manager Paul Dickov said, “I'm bitterly disappointed because I went on record last year and also this that I was desperate to have a cup run. This was a good opportunity, especially after our first-half performance and coming in 1-0 up, but unfortunately it hasn't worked out that way. We needed to keep a better shape after going in front and do the basic things right which we didn't. In the first half we didn't allow Carlisle to play, but in the second they imposed themselves on us more and we didn't get our full backs and wide players, who gave us joy in the opening period, into the game as we had done. We also probably dropped too deep which invited Carlisle on to us. We also tried to do things too quickly and force things rather than stringing together passes. We panicked on the ball when we ought to have relaxed and tried to play good football when we were 1-0 ahead.”
