So far so good for Sheridan
Reporter: Michael Yarwood
Date published: 24 July 2008
ATHLETIC 1, DERBY COUNTY 1
MANAGER John Sheridan is happy with Athletic’s progress as they continue their build-up to the new League One campaign.
Last night’s draw with Championship side Derby featured some bright moments and a well-worked equalising goal, finished off by summer signing Chris O’Grady
Athletic are now unbeaten in three friendlies, having won at Rhyl and Grimsby, and they face only two more outings – at home to Hull and away at Bradford – before the serious stuff gets under way.
Sheridan said: “This was a good test because Derby passed the ball around very well. They are a good footballing team from a higher division.
“We weren’t at the races for the first 10 or 15 minutes, but after that we matched them, caused them one or two problems and made a couple of chances.
“People will look sloppy at times because it’s early days, but our fitness is improving and we haven’t really worked on team shape yet.
“There are lads like Kevin Maher, Danny Whitaker and Demar Phillips who don’t know how we want them to play, but they will understand more once we’ve worked with them a bit longer.”
Maher played for 45 minutes in central midfield just after hours after completing his move to Boundary Park.
And Phillips – the Stoke City winger available on long-term loan – was also given half a game.
There were few real chances in a low-key friendly, although Derby, who spent last term in the Premier League, often moved the ball at a high tempo.
Paul Jewell’s men were gifted their goal when Athletic captain Sean Gregan allowed a cross to run through him, expecting ‘keeper Mark Crossley to collect.
Argentinian striker Emanuel Villa was stationed right behind Gregan and controlled easily before slotting in from close range.
It took less than five minutes for Athletic to pull level as, midway through the first half, the strikeforce of O’Grady and Craig Davies combined to impressive effect.
Davies seized on O’Grady’s pass and made headway towards the by-line before delivering a pinpoint cross which his team-mate drilled home from a couple of yards.
Davies could have scored himself in the 43rd minute as he reached the ball ahead of ‘keeper Roy Carroll but shot into the side netting from an extremely tight angle.
His namesake, Derby’s former Tranmere winger Steve, went close at the other end with a mazy run and well-struck drive.
As so often happens in pre-season, the number of changes disrupted the game’s flow, but visiting defender Martin Albrechtsen nodded wide from a Robbie Savage corner and Steve Davies blazed over from eight yards.
Athletic’s best opening of the second half fell to Lee Hughes, who steered an awkward header off target after good build-up down the right by Chris Taylor.
LINE-UPS
ATHLETIC: Crossley (Fleming 46), Eardley, Hazell (Stam 46), Gregan, Taylor, Liddell (Smalley 46), Allott (Stephens 66), Whitaker (Maher 46), Phillips (Lomax 46), Davies, O’Grady (Hughes 46).
DERBY: Carroll, Mears, Albrechtsen, Nyatanga (Todd 73), Stewart (Davies 46), Sterjovski (Teale 66), Green, Kazmierczak (Savage 57), McEveley (Lewis 61), Oster, Villa (Dickinson 66).
ATTENDANCE: 1,745.
