Serve up a double and Yule do for me, says Shez

CELEBRATION TIME . . . Athletic’s Neal Eardley shows his delight after scoring against Crewe the last time the two teams met.

Latics boss’s festive request to his players, by TONY BUGBY

ATHLETIC’S results over the holiday period will have a massive bearing on their bid for promotion from Coca-Cola League One.

Manager John Sheridan believes results against Crewe Alexandra, Carlisle United and Huddersfield Town could make or break their season.

He said: “As we saw two seasons ago, when we won all four of our matches, it is important to do well over the holiday period.”

Sheridan set a target of seven points from a possible nine against Leyton Orient, Crewe and Carlisle.

And, after Athletic were held at home by Leyton Orient last Saturday, there is no room for error if the team is to achieve the boss’s goal.

Athletic continue their holiday programme at Crewe on Boxing Day before entertaining Carlisle on Sunday, when fans are reminded that the kick-off is at 1pm.

Crewe are anchored in last place and Carlisle are sixth from bottom, but that doesn’t mean a gift-wrapped six points for Athletic, who have a poor record against struggling sides this season.

They have failed to beat the likes of Yeovil, Brighton and Leyton Orient and have also crashed out of the FA Cup at home to Cheltenham.

And they head to Crewe at a time when the Railwaymen are showing signs that they might pull off a great escape after a turbulent campaign in which Dario Gradi took over the managerial reins last month after Steve Holland was relieved of his duties.

Gradi was the longest-serving manager among the 92 league clubs before standing down in the summer after a marathon 24-year stint which even eclipsed Sir Alex Ferguson’s reign at Manchester United.

The 67-year-old remained at Gresty Road as technical director and has taken over again until a new appointment can be finalised.

Crewe were 11 points adrift of safety, but a home win against Swindon and a hard-earned goalless draw at high-flying Millwall have given them hope of survival.

Sheridan said: “Crewe had an excellent result at Millwall and can be very good on their day.

“But we have done well against them since I have been manager and we will be going there with a positive attitude to try to win the game.”

Athletic had a fine 4-1 victory at Gresty Road on the final day of last season when Neal Eardley, pushed into a midfield role, scored twice.

The Crewe squad contains some familiar faces as Calvin Zola, Julien Baudet and Steven Schumacher have all had spells at Boundary Park.

But there is no chance of them inflicting any damage as they are all ruled out through injury.


SUNDAY’S visitors Carlisle are battling against relegation after so nearly winning promotion last season.


They lost to Leeds in the play-offs and it has been a downward spiral ever since, though the sale of top scorer Joe Garner to Nottingham Forest and ’keeper Keiren Westwood to Coventry clearly weakened their side.

Ward became a managerial casualty and Greg Abbott was confirmed as the new manager after a spell as caretaker.

Although Carlisle have not won in their last four league matches, Sheridan does not view them as pushovers.

He said: “I think they are in a false position as they have some decent players.

“They are a strong team on their day and I think they will beat one or two of the top teams in the remainder of the season.”

LEAGUE ONE FIXTURES

BOXING DAY: Brighton v Colchester, Bristol Rovers v MK Dons (1pm), Carlisle v Huddersfield, Crewe v Athletic, Hereford v Tranmere, Leeds v Leicester, Leyton Orient v Swindon, Peterborough v Millwall (noon), Scunthorpe v Hartlepool, Southend v Northampton, Walsall v Stockport, Yeovil v Cheltenham.

SUNDAY: Cheltenham v Peterborough, Colchester v Leyton Orient, Hartlepool v Crewe, Huddersfield v Scunthorpe, Leicester v Hereford, Millwall v Yeovil, MK Dons v Southend, Northampton v Bristol Rovers, Athletic v Carlisle (1pm), Stockport v Leeds (noon), Swindon v Brighton, Tranmere v Walsall.