It’s so far, so good, says Shez

JOHN SHERIDAN: Athletic on target.

JOHN SHERIDAN believes Athletic are on target to challenge for a top-two spot and automatic promotion.

The Athletic manager delivered an upbeat verdict at the halfway point of the season which has seen his fifth-placed side amass 41 points from 23 fixtures in Coca-Cola League One.

“If we were to get the same points tally in the next half, I think we will be pushing for automatic promotion and definitely be in the play-offs,” declared Sheridan, who is aware that Nottingham Forest finished runners-up last season with 82 points.

Athletic made a fine start to the season and headed League One for the whole of September.

Despite a wobble in October and early November, when they slipped to seventh, they finished the year strongly with an eight-match unbeaten run.

That was extended to nine with Saturday’s 1-1 draw at Huddersfield.

Sheridan said: “I am pleased with where we are at the moment, though I am always striving to improve. The down side has not been winning games we have been expected to win which would have put us in an even better position.

“It was important to get off to a good start which we didn’t do in my first two seasons as manager.

“That was something I stressed to the players. Our early-season form was excellent and we found ourselves at the top of the league.”

Sheridan is disappointed not to have registered home wins against bottom-half teams like Yeovil, Brighton, Leyton Orient and Carlisle.

The side’s failings have been in complete contrast to their excellent record against the top teams as they have defeated high-flying MK Dons, Millwall, Scunthorpe and held runaway leaders Leicester.

Athletic have also performed well on the road, winning at Leeds, Tranmere, Northampton, Southend and Crewe.

And 10 away victories would be one more than Forest achieved last season when they finished runners-up.

Sheridan said: “We have proved we are as good as any team in this division. We have performed well in the big games and none of the teams at the top have looked better than us.

“It is all about consistency, something which I have been drumming on about since day one at the club.

“We have some players here who are very good on their day, but then they switch off - which is why you see me moaning and groaning.

“They sometimes lack belief in themselves which they shouldn’t as I have the belief to put them in the team in the first place.

“They must perform week-in, week-out if they are to become better players, just as I am always looking to improve as a manager.”

Sheridan is keen to push on in the second half of the season and his dealings in the January transfer window could have a major impact.

Without doubt, keeping the likes of Lee Hughes and Chris Taylor is vital, and Sheridan says there have been no bids for either player and both are happy at Boundary Park.

He said: “There is interest in them and all sorts of rumours, but nobody has rung me, and I don’t want them to.

“They have both done well and I don’t want to lose any players, especially my better ones, who are important if we want to push on.”

The Athletic manager is looking to bring in at least three new players to strengthen his squad.

He wants an experienced ’keeper to provide back-up for Greg Fleming in the injury-enforced absence of Mark Crossley, somebody on the left to replace the injured Daniel Jones and maybe a central defender.

Sheridan said: “I have to look at those three positions due to injury as we have little cover for them.

“When everybody is fit, I am more than happy with my squad which has been proven in the first half of the season.”

The Athletic manager says he does not like singling out players but, when push came to shove, he mentioned Reuben Hazell, whose consistency has impressed him.

Meanwhile, Sheridan is not surprised to see Leicester running away with League One.

The leaders are strong, well organised and in a different league in terms of financial resources.

“I think that also goes for a lot of other clubs in our division. We have either the fourth or fifth smallest budget, but I think we do very well with what we have,”said Sheridan.

Players to catch Sheridan’s eye have been Scunthorpe striker Gary Hooper and Peterborough's dynamic front three of Aaron McLean, Craig Mackail-Smith and George Boyd.