TOWN boss Peter Jackson surveyed a second successive defeat by Blackpool and admitted: "We have to hit back by beating Oldham."

After Saturday's Pennine derby at the Galpharm, Town will have a 10-day lay-off because of their FA Cup elimination by Simon Grayson's Tangerines the week before this 3-1 League setback by the seaside.

And Jackson is determined to go into the mini-break, and beef up confidence ahead of two London trips in five days (to Millwall on Tuesday December 5 and Orient on Saturday 9), on the back of a solid home win.

"Our disappointing home form so far means the fans have become edgy and it's important that we perform well and record a good win," said Jackson, who will have skipper Jon Worthington and right-back Andy Holdsworth back from one-game bans.

"There were positives in this match, not least another excellent performance by young Joe Skarz, but ultimately, the players and myself are judged on results, and we didn't get one.

"It was so disappointing to lose like we did.

"A mad five minutes in the first half allowed them to go 2-0 up, but when we pulled one back (through Gary Taylor-Fletcher), I was confident we could go on and get something.

"But we gave away a sloppy third goal, and in the final analysis, we have paid highly for three defensive errors.

"Nathan Clarke tried to step up for an offside for the first. He (Keigan Parker) might have been offside, but the referee and his assistant didn't think so, and that's what matters.

"A sloppy ball by John McCombe let them in for the second (Keith Southern shot home via the underside of the bar and the back of keeper Matt Glennon).

"And Aaron Hardy should have done better for the third (Wes Hoolahan crossed for Andy Morrell to convert).

"But other than the goals, I don't think Matt Glennon had to make a save.

"We worked hard and created chances, but they were more clinical than us."

Town took 1,612 fans to Bloomfield Road, where the total turn-out was 7,414, and Jackson, whose side dropped to 11th in the table, one below Blackpool and four behind Oldham, was grateful for their backing.

"For so many to sit in appalling conditions, which they are for the away fans at Blackpool, is superb," he said. "Hopefully they saw that the players showed the never-say-die attitude I always demand and kept going right to the end.