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Taylor’s fitness boost for Latics
Reporter: Matthew Chambers
Date online: 23 February 2010
ATHLETIC manager Dave Penney isn’t likely to change a thing if he can help it for tonight’s big game at Leeds – save, of course, from his strikers finding the back of the net.
The visitors to Elland Road are on the hunt for a third successive Coca-Cola League One victory at the ground on which Chris Taylor – who will play tonight despite getting a bang on his sore hip at the weekend – scored twice last season.
One win in eight league games is not the record you would expect from a Leeds side going for promotion.
But Penney isn’t worried about any potential backlash and is simply hoping that the performance level stays the same as was on show at Colchester, only with a different end result.
“On the way back you have a think about it and we would probably have been disappointed with a draw, the way we played,” said Penney, referring to the 1-0 defeat at the Weston Homes Community Stadium in which striker Jason Price went closest for Athletic.
“We have watched it again and we made some clear-cut chances that we should have done better with.
“We hit the target and Pricey had a couple that hit the post and crossbar, while Pawel (Abbott) had two or three good chances that the ‘keeper saved.
“With better finishing we would win that game by two or three goals, so were were disappointed not to get anything. But eventually, performances should reap rewards.
“It was always going to be a difficult week with Colchester in third, Leeds second and Norwich who are top.
“But we set our stall out at Colchester and this is a different game in which we start afresh.”
Penney names an unchanged squad after Taylor came through yesterday’s session unscathed.
“He trained on Monday so should be okay and will be involved,” said the Athletic boss, who confirmed that Danny Whitaker (flu) and Jim Goodwin (thigh strain) will be missing once again tonight.
Athletic (probable): Brill; Marrow, Gregan, Hazell, Jacobson; Smalley, Furman, Stephens, Taylor; Price, Abbott. Subs: Flahavan, Aljofree, Lomax, Lee, Colbeck, Parker, Brooke.
Leeds manager Simon Grayson could ring the changes for tonight’s game with Max Gradel, Luciano Becchio and Robert Snodgrass all pushing for starting spots after impressing from the bench in the 1-1 draw with Brighton at the weekend.
Left-back Ben Parker and striker Tresor Kandol are both back in training following injury but tonight’s game may have come too soon for the pair to be involved.
Comments
Baffled as well !....we've got the only team in the League with only one striker, in fact probably the entire football league to be honest.
How does he expect to get results ?... the opposition double mark the striker.... game over.
He's been looking for striker since November and before !
Would have been disapointed with a draw,guess a defeat is better then,What are you on PENNEY,not this planet anyway for gods sake sack this guy,before its to late.He isnt bothered about a backlash from LEEDS,WELL WE WILL SEE AFTER TONIGHTS RESULT.DT you cant work him out because he,s not real,he must be JEREMY BEEDLE IN DISGUISE cause someone is definately taking the --ss.
It's simple really...clubs let players out on loan either to get match fit or to get first team games under their belt.
That does not include 'bench warming'.
Price can't be dropped or he goes back to Millwall, Abbott has done nothing wrong and doesn't deserve to be dropped.
Our striking options have to come from within the club...and we haven't got any. A no-win situation that wouldn't have arisen if O'Grady hadn't been let go.
Well what now for Latics. Our 2 games in hand will mean nothing as teams around us have all picked up points and I doubt we will get any points against a Norwich side who came back from 1 nil down tonight. PENNEY needs to go as 8 wins is not gooodout of 30 games. Gives him a percentage of approx just over 25% success rate. Time for the TTA to change things before it's TOO LATE.
Cant wait to see his excuses after this performance. Will probably blame a "Leeds backlash" which is all you can do when you have only 1/3 the posession against a team which has won one in eight before tonight. I was at Colchester and Penney really looked like he didnt care when we went one down or when the final whistle went; he is the Kiegan Parker of the management game...in it for the money with no passion. The board should be ashamed that they have allowed him to stay till it is too late.
Taylor - fitness boost! His performances, even when on the pitch,don't match the promise he showed in the past. He is too injury prone. Seems like 'clutching at straws' is another one of DP's talents.
Have Your Say
Article on OAFC website "Price being keen to stay. Penney says that he has scope to bring in another player, clubs often insist on the loan man playing which could make it difficult if he brought in a striker as he couldn't drop Abbott or Price on current form. Baffled by this comment as I think we need as many options as possible before its too late. Still can't work this guy out!!
By DT @ 23/02/2010 13:16:14