Oldham coach Steve Deakin has warned Gateshead that his players will be fired up for the return fixture after losing in the North East.

Wednesday's 32-18 defeat left the Roughyeds 10 points behind the National League Two leaders.

Deakin told the club website that his team will be ready for the Boundary Park clash in three weeks time.

"We will be ready for them. If there was ever a match when the boys wouldn't need any motivation, it's that one."

He added: "I am not looking for excuses for the defeat in Gateshead. Our discipline and tackling technique went a bit lax, possibly the result of a bit of fatigue, and we committed suicide.

We looked weary and perhaps that was one of the reasons why we were a little bit indisciplined Oldhan coach Steve Deakin

"There wasn't much difference between the teams, although their discipline and their kicking game were better than ours.

"Having said all that, how do you expect to come to a place like Gateshead only three days after the sort of battling performance we put up at Wakefield and produce a similar sort of show?

"We looked weary and perhaps that was one of the reasons why we were a little bit indisciplined."