Watch us get back on track

MASTER MARKSMAN . . . Chris Taylor celebrates one of his six goals for Athletic this season.

CHRIS TAYLOR has admitted Athletic’s confidence could be damaged by their midweek defeat at Bristol Rovers.

But the winger is still looking ahead to his side’s next test – a return to the West Country at Swindon Town tomorrow – full of conviction that three points are within reach.

The last month has seen Athletic drop from top spot to fifth in League One, whereas Swindon have just received a boost: Tuesday night’s win against Northampton was their first in eight attempts.

One glance at the table, however, suggests Taylor’s belief in his team-mates is far from misplaced.

He said: “We need to regroup after a disappointing result, and now it’s even more important that we go to Swindon and win.

“The Bristol Rovers game might have an effect on the lads because confidence is always dented when you lose, but it’s not as though we played badly.

“We’ve only got one win from our last six, which is a disappointment, but there have been some difficult games during that run.

“Bristol Rovers was one of them – they will cause problems to a lot of teams – but everyone will be ready for when we play Swindon.

“Picking ourselves up isn’t a problem. The manager always helps us to do that when we’ve had a result we didn’t want.

“He’ll have us ready and prepared for Swindon and he’ll pick a team which will hopefully get us all three points.

“Obviously there are things to put right from the Bristol Rovers defeat, but it was a strange one because we’ve won games in the past by playing quite a lot worse.

“Their two goals were down to a lack of concentration, but our performance going forward was pleasing – we created numerous chances, especially in the second half, and the ball just wouldn’t go in.”

Like Bristol Rovers, Swindon caused Athletic all manner of trouble last season as they drew 2-2 at Boundary Park before winning 3-0 at home.

They finished mid-table and were quietly confident of a play-off bid this term, but Tuesday’s 2-1 victory over Northampton was only their third in 12 games.

It also provided much-needed relief at the County Ground, where a torrid run of defeats meant the natives were getting restless.

Swindon had lost five straight home games, against Colchester, Leeds, Millwall and Huddersfield (all league) and QPR (Carling Cup), shipping 14 goals.

Boss Maurice Malpas, the former Scotland international, has made few changes to his squad, leaving Simon Cox and Billy Paynter to carry most of the goalscoring burden.

The ever-dangerous Cox has already struck 11 times in league and cup, while ex-Port Vale man Paynter is on five.

Swindon have a backbone of experience as Lee Peacock operates in midfield and Hasney Aljofree, who spent a month on loan at Boundary Park two seasons ago, marshalls their back four.

Athletic must also watch out for left-sided speed merchant Yinka Casal – a top schoolboy athlete whose old 100m relay team hold the British under-13s record.



LEAGUE ONE FIXTURES
Tonight: Tranmere v Crewe.

Tomorrow: Bristol Rovers v Southend; Colchester v Carlisle; Hartlepool v Brighton; Hereford v Stockport; Leeds v Walsall;

Leicester v Northampton; MK Dons v Cheltenham; Peterborough v Huddersfield; Scunthorpe v Millwall; Swindon v Athletic; Yeovil v Leyton Orient.