Penney sights on massive tie

Date published: 03 November 2009

DAVE Penney admits his side have a mountain to climb in order to make it through to the second round of the FA Cup.

Coca-Cola Football League One leaders Leeds United visit Boundary Park on Saturday (5.15pm kick-off) for a first-round tie which is being broadcast live on the Internet through the FA's website.

Manager Simon Grayson's side thumped Yeovil 4-0 at home on Saturday, striker Jermaine Beckford notching his 11th goal of a season which has so far brought Leeds only one defeat in the league, away to Millwall.

One thing in Athletic’s favour is a good recent run against the side from West Yorkshire, with the Boundary Park club picking up seven points from the last four meetings between the sides.It is a massive game," said Athletic boss Penney, who has a number of injury worries to contend with ahead of a tie which looks set to attract another big home crowd.
"Leeds are flying. I watched them against Yeovil and they got four goals, so it is going to be a massive test for us.

"It will be a good atmosphere and we will be up for it, that is for sure.

"I have seen that we have had a good recent record against Leeds.

“Chris Taylor has scored a couple of goals against them, so we are looking to continue that on Saturday."

Penney was annoyed that Athletic conceded the only goal of a tight game against Huddersfield to a near-post free-kick from Robbie Williams and will address the situation this week.

"It was a good finish and it takes a lot of quality to get it in that corner of the goal," he added.

"But we will have a look at it on the DVD. Is that wall set right? Is the goalkeeper's position right?

"You also look before that and we shouldn't be in a position to give a free-kick away as it was originally a quick free-kick to us."