LAURENT Banide took little solace in his side’s heartbreaking exit from the Carabao Cup.

Latics led 1-0 and 2-1 against Championship side Blackburn Rovers only for two stoppage-time goals to see them exit the competition at the first hurdle at Ewood Park on Tuesday night.

Head coach Banide expressed sympathy for the 686 travelling fans who saw their side come within a whisker of causing a major shock after a tough start to the season.

“It’s difficult but this is football. We must accept this,” said the Frenchman.

“We didn’t play well in the last 10 minutes and conceded two goals so that’s football.

“Against a big team we paid the price.

“Our level is not enough at the moment and I’m very sad for the supporters because they were with us today.

“We played very well but we lost. We need to win games and we need to find a solution.

“If we play better than the opposition in a game then we need to win it.

Gevaro Nepomuceno opened the scoring for Latics inside the first 15 minutes and Oldham led for more than an hour against a team two leagues above them.

Bradley Dack equalised only for Mohammed Maouche to put Banide’s men back in front 10 minutes from time.

Then came the cruel twist with Stewart Downing scoring in the 92nd minute and Joe Rothwell in the 95th.

It left the head coach frustrated once again, his reign so far including two League Two defeats against Forest Green and Crewe and just a solitary victory, against Liverpool’s Under-21s in the EFL Trophy.

A trip to Bradford, who have drawn both of their games, is next up on Saturday with Latics needing to get up and running in the league sooner rather than later.

“After Saturday we played well in the first half and the second we weren’t so good,” said Banide.

“We must have more concentration and do more work. We must work on these situations and try to do our best.”