Philliskirk happy with comeback
Oldham caretaker manager Tony Philliskirk cut a satisfied figure after overseeing his second comeback of the day.
Philliskirk, who was thrust into the Latics hotseat after Paul Dickov's resignation a fortnight ago, looked on from the sidelines as Matt Smith's last-gasp equaliser earned a 2-2 draw and an FA Cup fifth-round replay against Everton.
But hours earlier the 48-year-old undertook his day job of youth-team coach against Rochdale in Salford, surroundings far removed from the white-hot atmosphere that greeted David Moyes' side at Boundary Park. "We drew at Rochdale one-all," he explained. "It's been a good day, Rochdale are a good team. They're older than us, very good."
He added: "We were losing there and came back to get an equaliser in the second half. There were about 20 or 30 there. All the parents of all the boys go and there's one man and his dog walking around the outside."
Oldham had their Merseyside opposition reeling when winger Jordan Obita gave them a 13th-minute lead. Victor Anichebe ensured Everton were level midway through the first half and they took what appeared to be a decisive lead shortly after the interval through Phil Jagielka's header, but Smith ensured a share of the spoils.
"From the club's perspective this (the Everton result) is massive," Philliskirk added. "For me personally, seeing the development of those young players - you take this any way you like - is as important as seeing that display there.
"Everyone was jumping about around me and I was just smiling to myself. I'm under no illusions about what it means to the club financially and at the end of the day that's the most important thing.
"It's troubled times for everybody, there's no money about. The team haven't done that well this year and attendances have fallen. All in all, hopefully (the result) generates a feel-good factor, it'll encourage people to come back but, more than anything, it's what that means to the club - another game, at Goodison, possibly on TV again."
Moyes paid tribute to Oldham's efforts but felt his men might have put the tie to bed at 2-1. "I'm delighted we are still in the hat for the cup," he said. "It is a tough place to come - Oldham made it difficult and I think they deserved to get their replay.
"But then I also think we had great chances to wrap it up when it was 2-1. We missed a couple of big chances to make it 3-1 and we didn't do so. But hey, that is what the cup does. Give Oldham credit - they have taken some big scalps in this competition already and they nearly did it again."
