The Latics fell again, this time it was high flying Norwich City who did the damage with a 2-0 scoreline. The result leaves Athletic perilously perched one place above the drop zone. Expecting a tough game, manager Dave Penney told the official website, "We knew it was going to be tough, even with our top players, the likes of Taylor, Abbott and Worthington it's going to be a tough ask. We tried to match them up and stop Hoolahan playing, but they're a good footballing side and you can see why they're up there and they'll be up there come the end of the season too. It was tough going first half but second half we've made three good chances - one for Parker and one for Whitaker that could have changed things. However, that's not to say we'd have deserved a draw but they change the game and the underlying fact is they're a better team."
"Against these big teams it is important to keep it tight and we did that for 20 minutes. But then we get caught as Smalley is offside and it's a quick free kick and before you know it the ball's in our net, but we should still be dealing with the ball as it comes in. And the second is our free kick and we give it away softly and it's another quick break and goal. We're very disappointed in that. Keigan Parker's chance - is it a good save or a bad miss? It hit his elbow and spun round the post. Danny has had a good one-on-one chance too, and you don't get many of those chances against teams like this and you have to take them. Ryan Brooke has done well again but we have to manage him right and feed him and unfortunately with our senior players out we have to blood players like Ryan and I think at the moment we have too many youngsters that need nurturing."