I won’t make hectic programme an excuse — boss

JOHN SHERIDAN . . . the Athletic manager says his side possess enough ability to shock leaders Burton tomorrow.

NO EXCUSES is the slogan boss John Sheridan has stated ahead of Athletic’s punishing Easter schedule.

Tomorrow’s game at Burton (12.30pm kick-off) is the first of two in three days. Chesterfield arrive at SportsDirect.com Park on Easter Monday (3pm) with even less recovery time - they play Fleetwood in a 3pm game tomorrow.

While other relegation rivals Doncaster and Blackpool have an extra day’s rest, Sheridan isn’t in the mood to worry too much. And he is clear in his intentions against the Brewers — to go to the Pirelli Stadium and shock the table-toppers.

“I always look at it from a player’s perspective and for me, it wouldn’t have bothered me to tell the truth,” said Sheridan, when asked about the impact of two matches in such a short space of time.

“I don’t want to make it an excuse. Some people will, some won’t. I wouldn’t be bothered as a player whether it was Saturday and Monday or Friday and Monday. The only downside is if you get a knock, then it’s less recovery time.

No fresh faces were brought in on a quiet loan deadline day, and without on-loan Burton duo Matt Palmer and Timmy Thiele tomorrow, Athletic’s boss will have to shuffle his pack.

Mike Jones could switch to the centre to play alongside Liam Kelly, or Carl Winchester could have a role there.

Cameron Dummigan, who misses the Chesterfield game due to his call-up to Northern Ireland’s under-21s squad, has recovered from illness and could feature on the right of midfield. The only injury absentees are Dominic Poleon and Rhys Turner.