JOHN Kear reckons unlucky Oldham Roughyeds are League One’s polar opposite of York City Knights.

The Bulls head for the compact Vestacare Stadium for their final away game of the campaign tomorrow.

They face a home side desperate to hang on to a play-off spot after a catalogue of near misses.

Scott Naylor’s team have suffered nine losses – but eight of them by eight points or less and again ran leaders York close at Bootham Crescent last week when they were beaten 10-6.

It’s that inability to finish the job in close encounters that has held the Roughyeds back.

“I think they are the reverse of York to be honest,” said Kear.

“York have had a perfect storm of a season where everything seems to have come just the right side of the ledger on seven out of eight occasions.

“You’d probably say that Oldham have just had the opposite of that.

“They could just as easily be in the same position as York with those scores.

“All their losses have been tight except when we beat them at Odsal.”

The Bulls won 30-12 in the reverse fixture at Easter, although Oldham had an effort ruled out for offside that would have levelled the scores at 18-18 with 10 minutes left.

Kear is acclimatising his squad for the tight 4G pitch awaiting them by training at Dewsbury today. He expects to have to fight for every point against a side with no lee-way to make the play-off cut.

The Bulls coach added: “Oldham are a very tough, hard-working side and take some breaking down.

“Defensively, there’s only ourselves and York better than them.

“So, it’s really difficult to post points against them as indicated by the 10 that York got last week.

“They don’t concede tries easily. You have to work for everything you get.

“They are a physical, go-forward side as well so we know it’s going to be a really tough day at the office. We’re going to be asked lots of questions.

“There are easier teams to play to get two points but I’m sure Scott will adhere to that as well.”

The players have been carefully eased through the build-up after the demands of the long trek to Llanelli last weekend.

Kear was delighted with the professionalism on show in the 104-0 battering of West Wales Raiders as he prepares for a very different challenge.

He said: “I was very happy with what they threw up, especially with what’s put in front of you and the logistical aspect of the travel.

“The players were really disciplined in everything we did. We looked after the ball and our error count was well down on previous weeks.

“You’ve got to take the standard of opposition into account but they also took on board what we’re attempting to practise in training.

“After the six-hour journey down there, we’ve been very kind to them in training and trying to nurse them through.

“But if you could show me a fully-fit rugby league player at this stage of the season, I’d be very surprised.

“It’s the type of beast we’re dealing with. Some very brave people play rugby league and it’s more than amply demonstrated at this time of the season when there are bumps and bruises.

“It becomes as much a mental aspect as it is a physical one."