Sheridan issues a wake-up call

ATHLETIC’S Sean Gregan wins an aerial duel with Bradford’s Lee Bullock.

Bradford C 1, Athletic 0

ATHLETIC boss John Sheridan has ordered his players to sharpen up their attitude before the new season kicks off on Saturday.

Though Sheridan wasn’t downhearted by the loss at Bradford, he feels certain members of his large squad should be working harder to earn a place in the team.

Citing Andy Liddell as an example to all, he said: “We have a lot of players at the club, but I can only pick 11, plus five subs, and it’s going to be a reality check for some of them.

“Lidds is 35, but he has been coming on and, with the way he plays and goes about his game, he tells me he should be in the side.

“He trains properly every day and some of the others don’t do that – they think they can switch on and off, but I see right through them.

“They should be pushing harder. They should take a leaf out of Andy Liddell’s book because he’s an excellent professional, still a very good player and I know he’s going to be very good again this season.

“I pretty much know my team for next weekend (at home to Millwall), but I’ve told the players that not one of them is guaranteed a place in it – not one of them.

“I’ve told Lewis Alessandra and Deane Smalley they shouldn’t just expect Craig Davies and Chris O’Grady to be up front. I’ve told Stefan Stam he needs to be pushing to play in defence.”

Athletic lacked attacking flair against League Two side Bradford, their biggest threats proving to be wide men Liddell, Demar Phillips, Chris Taylor and Deane Smalley.

Smalley demonstrated his aerial strength at the far post, but Sheridan admitted: “I didn’t think we had much sharpness in our game.

“We had our opportunities, but I keep telling the players they need to think more about what makes football simple.

“We should be beating a team from a lower division, although the result doesn’t matter and we kept the ball well in the second half.

“We’ve still got a week to work on our shape, and we’ll be doing that morning and afternoon. I’m very confident we will start the season well.”

Athletic could have taken an early lead when O’Grady raced on to Neal Eardley’s long pass and sent his steepling lob wide of goal.

Sean Gregan’s timely challenge prevented a chance for Bradford before a fine cross by Eardley was scrambled away as Taylor waited to convert.

Trialist John Hills delivered a pinpoint ball from the left which saw Smalley rise above his marker and thump a close-range header against the bar.

Smalley planted his next effort too close to goalkeeper Rhys Evans and then, staying positive whenever the ball was hung up, he forced an agile save at the near post.

Bradford had only gone close through Kyle Nix’s free-kick, but the home side made their breakthrough moments before half-time.

Leaving Hills in his wake, Omar Daley cut in from the right. And despite scuffing his initial shot, the Jamaican seized on a stroke of good fortune to fire home the rebound from eight yards.

Athletic made five second-half changes and used a system which left one main striker with plenty of support just behind – sort of a 4-2-3-1.

They struggled, however, to carve out openings, and Taylor, now operating at left-back, was needed to prevent a likely goal after Mark Allott gave possession to Daley.

A half-chance arrived after 70 minutes when Lewis Alessandra was blocked by the onrushing Evans as he bravely stooped to meet Liddell’s cross. Striker was clattered by ‘keeper, but he was fine after treatment.

Athletic’s only other glimpse of goal came in stoppage time, with Danny Whitaker unable to control his shot as he burst deep into the Bradford area.