Dickov calls for speedy delivery

Reporter: Matthew Chambers
Date online: 24 January 2012

PAUL Dickov feels his side need to be less fussy in their build-up play.

The blank against Exeter City was a second in their last three matches — despite plenty of pressure applied on the opposition, particularly in the second half.

While perhaps unfortunate not to make the breakthrough, Athletic’s manager believes his men could do more.

“You make your own luck sometimes,” said Dickov. “We got into some good positions (against Exeter) and took too many touches at times.

“When you are on top of teams and are putting pressure on them, you need to put the ball in the box. Apart from Filipe Morais, I don’t think we put enough crosses in.

“We had enough chances to win the game. There was only really one team out there who wanted to win it, whereas the other team was happy with a point.

“Hopefully, we are saving up all our goals for next week.”

Exeter also had their chances in the game, though, and could have gone south with three points had they not spurned a couple of openings in the contest’s final few minutes.

The cavalier attitude towards attack, also prevalent in recent clashes with Chesterfield, is an aspect of Athletic’s play Dickov wants to stamp out.

“When you are pressing forward trying to win the game you leave yourself open at the back, which we have got to be a little more streetwise about,” Dickov added.

“At times we had 10 players trying to win the game for us. The back four have to keep solid and let the other six in front do it.”