Manager John Sheridan admits Oldham were well below-par as they went down 1-0 at home to Hartlepool, calling it "nowhere near good enough".Michael Mackay's well-taken lob was enough to earn the Pools the three points and Sheridan conceded the Latics were not performing well enough to make a push for the play-offs.

He said: "We haven't played well for three or four games now and performances like this won't get us anywhere. If we fail, we fail but let's not do it through lack of trying.

"It was a poor game and nowhere near good enough. If we are to get out of this division we have to be a lot, lot stronger.

"We should be beating the likes of Hartlepool but it's just not happening for us at the moment.

"We have to plod on and get as high up the table without mentioning the play-offs. But I don't think our performances of late have merited us climbing the table."

More Football News from TEAMtalk