Pirates plunder precious points

PIVOTAL MOMENT: Lee Hughes misses a chance to put Athletic ahead from the penalty spot. Pictures by VINCENT BROWN and TOM PICKLES.

1 More Image(s) In Gallery

Athletic 0, Bristol Rovers 2

THE stayaway fans were the lucky ones as Athletic’s play-off hopes were dealt a massive blow following last night’s home defeat against Bristol Rovers.

On a night of live televised Champions League football, there was a disappointing crowd of 3,745 at Boundary Park, the lowest of the season in Coca-Cola League One.

The supporters who left their armchairs must have regretted their decision because Athletic provided precious little to cheer as their form has hit a worrying slump.

Yet had Athletic taken the chances that came their way in the opening period, there could well have been a different outcome. They failed to do so and then in the second half they fell apart alarmingly.

Equally perplexing was manager John Sheridan’s frank admission that he doesn’t know what has gone wrong in recent weeks.

Certainly a run of one win in six league matches - a sequence which has seen them pick up a meagre six points from a possible 18 - is well short of what is required to challenge for promotion.

The fact that Athletic remain in the top six is largely by default owing to the failings of others as the likes of Millwall and Scunthorpe have also stuttered of late.

After a disappointing display at Yeovil on Saturday, this was another below-par performance as the recent malaise continued. Hardly any players performed to their potential as Athletic lost a league game at home for only the second time in almost 12 months.

Athletic’s defensive frailties were again exposed, the midfield failed to impose its authority on the game and it was a measure of their lack of firepower that Dean Windass and Lee Hughes were both substituted.

In the closing stages it was left to youngsters Deane Smalley and Lewis Alessandra to lead the line, but with the team 2-0 down it was a big ask for them to inspire an unlikely fightback.

Sheridan axed goalkeeper Greg Fleming and midfield man Kevin Maher from Saturday as on-loan Jan Budtz took over between the posts and Danny Whitaker won a recall in midfield.

After a dreary opening half-hour, in which neither keeper was called into action, the match exploded to life when Athletic were awarded a controversial penalty.

Hughes, released by a fine through ball by Scott Golbourne, was adjudged to have been brought down on the left edge of the box by keeper Steve Phillips with Bristol Rovers claiming Hughes left his leg for the keeper to make contact with.

They claim justice was done when Phillips denied Hughes, who took over the penalty-taking duties in the absence of Andy Liddell, who was on the bench.

It was Phillips’ second penalty save in successive away matches, but Hughes will be disappointed as it was a poor kick.

Rovers also had another let-off when Chris Taylor cut in from the right and fired in a weak shot which fell invitingly for Windass who crashed a shot against the crossbar.

On another night, with fortune on their side, Athletic could easily have finished the opening period 2-0 ahead as the visitors never troubled them in the first 45 minutes.

It began to go horribly wrong minutes after the restart when Athletic’s defence was split open and Chris Lines burst clear only to pull his effort wide.

Athletic failed to heed the warning and moments later their defence was undone again as Ricky Lambert sent Darryl Duffy scurrying clear and his deflected shot somehow managed to evade the dive of keeper Budtz.

What was concerning was the lukewarm response to falling behind as Athletic lacked fight and passion to claw their way back into the game.

Yet they could have drawn level when Windass fired over a low cross from the right and Hughes, in front of goal, scuffed his shot wide.

Bristol doubled their lead midway through the second period when Athletic’s marking from a Stuart Campbell free-kick was shambolic. Byron Anthony was left free on the edge of the box to fire in a shot and then follow up to scramble home the rebound after Budtz had parried the initial effort.

Sheridan substituted Windass and Hughes but by then the damage had been done and there was no way back for Athletic.