Locked out

pain game: Jonathan Forte is helped away after picking up a knee injury late on against Bristol City.

DISAPPOINTED Athletic manager Dean Holden was left cursing a lack of cutting edge at Crawley, as a side shorn of injured top scorer Jonathan Forte struggled to break down the relegation-threatened outfit.

It was a case of one step forward and two steps back as the visitors lost to remain 13th in the league.

Fresh from a fully deserved point against Bristol, Athletic welcomed back captain Liam Kelly, James Wilson and Joseph Mills. Jacob Mellis also made a return off the bench in the second half of the 2-0 defeat.

But as well as Forte, Holden was missing six players — Danny Philliskirk, George Elokobi, Amari Morgan-Smith, Rhys Murphy, Anthony Gerrard and Luke Woodland.

The players are due in for training on Thursday; injuries will be assessed ahead of Saturday’s home game with Sheffield United. But it seems Forte, at least, is due to miss out on that clash.

“Jonathan has a swelling on his knee and there is no point scanning it yet,” Holden said. “We have to let it settle first.

“Anthony Gerrard travelled with us, but he wasn’t able to get out there with his tight calf. Hopefully it isn’t too much of a bad strain.”

Athletic had plenty of possession during the game, but Holden conceded they didn’t do enough to test Crawley goalkeeper Brian Jensen with only three shots in 90 minutes.

“We cut them open a few times, but not past the edge of their box, which was the most disappointing thing,” said Holden.

“It disappoints me, to be honest. We controlled the game without testing their goalkeeper too many times. He made a good save from a Mike Jones free-kick in the first half and another from Rhys Turner in the second half.

“Around their box it all fell flat. We just didn’t have enough dynamic movement to work their goalkeeper.”



TONIGHT’S fixtures in Sky Bet League One (all kick-offs 7.45pm) — Bristol City v Swindon; MK Dons v Scunthorpe; Sheffield Utd v Doncaster.



twitter: @Matt_Chambers_