Bans threaten promotion bid

RUEBEN HAZELL: Ten bookings for the season.

ATHLETIC’S bid for promotion from Coca-Cola League One is in danger of being disrupted by suspension to two key players.

Rueben Hazell picked up his 10th booking of the campaign in last night’s 1-1 home draw against Leeds United.

It means the 29-year-old central defender must serve a two-match ban which will rule him out of the important fixtures at Milton Keynes Dons and at home to Tranmere, two of their promotion rivals.

Striker Lee Hughes is walking a disciplinary tightrope after last night collecting his ninth booking.

One more caution and the influential striker will also have to serve a two-match ban at what would be a crucial stage of the campaign.

Manager John Sheridan thought a draw was a fair reflection on last night’s game and he declared himself satisfied after picking up four points from the fixtures against play-off rivals Millwall and Leeds in the space of little over 48 hours.

Sheridan fielded an unchanged starting line-up, with his only alteration to the 16 on the bench where striker Dean Windass replaced left-back Scott Golbourne.

The Athletic manager threw caution to the wind by naming three attacking players - Windass, Lewis Alessandra and Andy Liddell - among his five substitutes.

Last night’s game attracted a host of talent-spotters including England under-21 boss Stuart Pearce, Everton’s David Moyes, Hull’s Phil Brown, Steve Wigley, from Bolton, and Jim Ryan, Manchester United.

Athletic fielded a side containing eight professionals for this afternoon’s reserve-team friendly against Wigan Athletic at Chapel Road (2.0).

Senior players in action included Kelvin Lomax, Danny Whitaker, Stefan Stam, Kieran Lee and Lewis Alessandra.

There was also a first home appearance for Portuguese under-19 international Fabio Ferreira who is on a month-long loan from Chelsea.

Athletic (from): Bell, Rowney, Lomax, Whitaker, Esdaile-Biney, McGrath, Lee, Ferreira, Alessandra, Black, Kilcourse, Ollerenshaw, Cowan, Rose, Zaicevs.