Athletic step in the right direction

ATHLETIC midfielder Dean Furman wins possession against Middlesbrough in last night’s Boundary Park friendly.

Athletic 2, Middlesbrough 2

ATHLETIC fans left Boundary Park last night in far different spirits to Saturday.

Manager Dave Penney was also left to reflect on a display against Middlesbrough which was light years removed from the sorry showing against Sunderland.

And there were the first signs last night that the green shoots of the new-look team are starting to sprout in what was their toughest examination so far.

Though some of Boro’s top players were absent, they were still able to call upon the likes of David Wheater, Justin Hoyte, Julio Arca, Jeremie Aliadiere, Adam Johnson and Robert Huth, key members of last season’s Premier League side.

Athletic more than matched their illustrious opponents with a performance which provided a source of optimism for the coming campaign.

It was a night when the team fired in every department.

And looking at last night’s line-up, probably nine of the starters will kick off the campaign against Stockport County on Saturday week as Penney looks to have almost finalised his first-choice side.

After Saturday’s dire defending against Sunderland, they were solid at the back apart from being undone twice by set-play corners. But better teams than Athletic will fail to halt giant German international central defender Robert Huth.

Reuben Hazell, whose blunders gifted Sunderland both their goals at Boundary Park, put that nightmare behind him and he and Sean Gregan were colossal at the back.

Dean Furman, back after injury, made things tick in midfield where Jon Worthington grafted tirelessly.

Chris Taylor won new admirers from Boro staff with another assured display on the left flank and a fine goal.

Pawel Abbott worked hard defending from the front and produced some neat touches alongside trialist Darren Byfield, who has made a surprise return to Boundary Park having been freed by Doncaster.

Keigan Parker, whose arrival was delayed by a motorway pile-up, made up for lost time by coming off the bench to score his first goal, an exquisite free kick to make it 2-2.

Athletic made a dream start, taking the lead in the sixth minute when Abbott’s flick released Taylor who burst through the middle of the Boro defence to slot the ball low past keeper Danny Coyne.

Abbott had a chance to double the lead but Coyne just managed to deflect his close-range effort into the side netting in an opening half in which Athletic keeper Dean Brill didn’t have a shot to save.

Abbott had another clear-cut opening early in the second half, but blazed over and Boro made a breakthrough just short of the hour when Athletic failed to clear a Mark Yeates corner, allowing right-back Rhys Williams to head home.

Midway through the second period Boro stole ahead with Huth this time heading home from a Yeates corner, a bullet from 12 yards into the roof of the net.

Athletic displayed resolve and drew level within two minutes when Parker looped in a free kick from 30 yards off the underside of the crossbar.

Brill made a couple of decent saves late on to deny Williams and Gary Martin, but Athletic were never seriously threatened on a night when their pre-season preparations moved up several gears.

ATHLETIC (4-4-2): Brill; Eardley (Lomax 46), Hazell, Gregan, Jacobson (Whitaker 50); Holdsworth, Furman (Rowney 86), Worthington, Taylor; Abbott (O’Grady 77), Byfield (Parker 59). Subs (not used): Alessandra, Lee, Ollerenshaw, Steer.