Latics trio face a yellow peril

REUBEN HAZELL: One of three players threatened by suspension.

ATHLETIC have three players walking a disciplinary tightrope when they play Bristol Rovers at Boundary Park tonight at the start of a vital three-game spell in six days.

Defenders Reuben Hazell and Sean Gregan, who were both cautioned at Yeovil on Saturday, and striker Dean Windass are all one booking away from a ban.

But if Gregan and Windass can steer clear of further yellow peril for the next two matches they will escape a one-match suspension as players accumulating five yellow cards after March 1 simply receive a warning about their behaviour.

It is a totally different scenario for Hazell who will be banned for two matches if he is booked again and reaches ten for the season.

It is an anxious time as Gregan and Hazell have been defensive mainstays and Athletic can ill afford to lose one or both of them.

Manager John Sheridan said that is one of the reasons he has brought in loan players to act as cover for the final push for promotion.

After tonight, Athletic travel to Millwall on Saturday and are at home to Leeds next Monday – a spell which could test their strength in depth.

Sheridan said: “I tell the players who are not involved, very good players like Neal Eardley, Kelvin Lomax, Kieran Lee, Stefan Stam and Danny Whitaker to be ready because their time will come,” said Sheridan.

He believes the next week could have a massive bearing on Athletic’s campaign.

“It will be a big ask to get nine points from the next three games, but it is important we win tonight, declared Sheridan.

“Bristol are one of our bogey sides and I have not done well against them since I became manager.

“They are not a bad side, they are well organised and Ricky Lambert up front is a danger. They can beat anybody on their day, but nothing less than three points will do for us.”

ATHLETIC (from): Fleming, Budtz, Hines, Eardley, Golbourne, Lomax, Gregan, Hazell, Stam, Smalley, Liddell, Lee, Maher, Allott, Whitaker, Taylor, Hughes, Windass, Alessandra.

Rovers are likely to have 21-goal Lambert back in their starting line- up. He missed the win at Scunthorpe with a hip problem and has only been on the bench for the last two games.