Dickov: No time to ease up

Paul Dickov: hoping for lots of points for Christmas

PAUL Dickov has hammered into his squad the need to start climbing up the npower League One table, with plenty of points to be grabbed in a busy period.

Athletic’s manager wants his men to take heart from a run of three wins in four matches, the most recent of them a rousing 3-1 dismissal of Doncaster in the second round of the FA Cup.

Out-of-form Colchester United play host to Athletic on Saturday at the Weston Homes Community Stadium. It is the first of five league games in December - a month that also pits Athletic against Swindon (home), Yeovil (away), Doncaster (home) and Crewe (home).

Though Dickov has yet to see his side enter the top half of the division this season, he is determined that his players find a consistency that will allow the club to move up from currently disappointing 16th.

“If we can carry on picking up points, it will give us breathing space. We are looking to climb the table and to do that, we need to continue our good form.”



DEAN Furman will not be involved in South Africa’s friendly against Malawi at the Moses Mabhida Stadium, Durban, on December 22.

Athletic’s captain will be available to face Yeovil at Huish Park on the same day, following negotiations between the club and national team coach Gordon Igesund.

Athletic remain hopeful that Furman will be allowed by South Africa to feature in the FA Cup tie at Nottingham Forest on January 5, before jetting out to link up with Bafana Bafana ahead of their Africa Cup of Nations warm-up game against Norway in Cape Town three days later.