Sheridan warns of tough test

ATHLETIC will be wearing a new home kit tomorrow after officially completing their sponsorship deal with JD Sports. The new strip has the same design as Athletic’s fluo yellow away kit and features the JD brand of Carbrini Sportswear. Left to right: Chris Taylor, John Sheridan (manager), Stephen White (Group MD JD Sports), Alan Hardy (Athletic chief executive) and Sean Gregan.

JOHN SHERIDAN believes Athletic are on the crest of a wave ahead of tomorrow’s clash with Cheltenham at Boundary Park.

Sheridan’s men have made a 100-per-cent start to the season – but he has warned his players that Cheltenham will be just as tough as last week’s vanquished opponents, Leeds United.

The manager said: “Everyone is buzzing at the moment, but playing in front of 25,000 people at Leeds is different to playing Cheltenham at home.

“We’ve got to lift ourselves all over again. This is a game which most people are expecting us to win, but it doesn’t just happen like that.

“I can tell you now, Cheltenham will be very strong and organised. They will come here full of confidence.

“They have just beaten Southend (in the Carling Cup) and Swindon (in the league), so that tells you what a decent side they are.

“We are on the crest of a wave at the moment, so we’ll be taking the game to Cheltenham and seeing how they respond.

“If they want to make it an open game, all the better, but it’s vital we win plenty of games at home this season.

“We were on and off last year. There were too many home games where we lost, even though we dominated the opposition.

“I want us to keep the ball in Cheltenham’s half and hopefully create a few chances, but we’ll be taking nothing for granted.”

Sheridan is likely to name an unchanged team, with Danny Whitaker getting the nod in midfield ahead of Kevin Maher.

As Athletic are still without banned striker Craig Davies, Lewis Alessandra will partner Lee Hughes in attack.

Cheltenham could include their new loan signing, Charlton midfielder Dean Sinclair, but Ben Gill is suspended after being sent off against Swindon last week.

ATHLETIC (from): Crossley, Eardley, Hazell, Gregan, Lomax, Liddell, Allott, Whitaker, Taylor, Alessandra, Hughes, O’Grady, Smalley, Stam, Maher, Stephens, Fleming.

CHELTENHAM (from): Higgs, J Gill, Townsend, Duff, Wright, Bird, Russell, Armstrong, Vincent, Myrie-Williams, Hayles, Gallinagh, Connor, Lindegaard, Sinclair, Brown.

Athletic fans are reminded that discounts are available for the Carling Cup tie at Burnley on Tuesday when tickets are bought in advance.

They cost £15 (adults), £10 (over-65s) and £5 (under-16s), but admission on the night will be £15 for everyone.