Kusunga red card leaves way clear for Connor

FRUSTRATION . . . Lee Johnson shows his feelings during the game at MK Dons.

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CONNOR Brown is set to reclaim a starting place for Athletic when a busy period of nine matches in 36 days begins with Gillingham’s visit to Boundary Park this weekend.

The right-back will step into the shoes of Genseric Kusunga, whose red card at MK Dons on Saturday has resulted in a two-match ban.

Former Sheffield United player Brown may consider himself unfortunate to have lost his spot in the first place, but manager Lee Johnson felt Kusunga was dealt with a little harshly by referee Chris Sarginson.

And the boss also apportioned some blame for the defeat on the shoulders of substitute Jonson Clarke-Harris, who didn’t hold the ball up as well as could be expected at Stadium MK when the visitors came under increasing pressure.

“The Kusunga red card was disappointing,” Johnson said. “Had it been an isolated incident then I don’t think he would have been shown a yellow card there. It wasn’t a bad one.

“I was also disappointed with Jonno Clarke-Harris; he was poor and it killed us, really.

“Other than that, it was an excellent performance. I was desperate to get something out of the game.”

Before things started to unravel with 10 men in the second half, Johnson could at least take some satisfaction from the way his side out-manouevred the Dons.