Penney keeps faith in his strike force

DAVE PENNEY: Confidence in his front players.

MANAGER Dave Penney has every confidence Athletic’s strikers will soon be among the goals.

Athletic head into back-to-back away fixtures at Leyton Orient and Millwall in Coca-Cola League One without a goal in their first two competitive matches.

Penney used Pawel Abbott and Keigan Parker as the front two against Stockport, while Chris O’Grady and Darren Byfield teamed up at Carlisle in the Carling Cup.

The Athletic manager said: “We would have scored two or three against Stockport but for their keeper making a couple of great saves.

“The one to deny Dean Furman was fantastic as it looked to have gone past him, while there was another good one from Pawel Abbott’s free kick.

“It was different away from home at Carlisle. You have to try to keep it tight at the back because you need to stay in the game and don’t want to get overrun and lose by three or four goals.”

Though Penney has not revealed his line-up, it is a fair bet to say that Abbott and Parker will be recalled to star tomorrow at Leyton Orient.

The Athletic manager added there has been a lot to be pleased with in the first two matches, even though they have failed to yield a victory.

Penney admitted Athletic have a difficult match at Leyton Orient in the wake of the Os excellent start to the campaign.

He said: “Orient had a great run when Geraint Williams (manager) went in towards the end of last season.

“And they have won both their games so far, including at Colchester in the Carling Cup in midweek, so it will be a hard match.

“Millwall got to the play-offs last season so we are under no illusions that both are going to be tough games.”

On-loan Alex Marrow returns to the squad after being refused permission to play in the cup by Blackburn Rovers.

He is in contention for a recall at right-back which would enable Andy Holdsworth to push forward to the right side of midfield.

Penney admitted Chris Taylor’s niggling groin strain remains a worry, explaining that he struggles after an hour’s play.

He says the injury will be monitored and it is hoped he will be able to continue playing while receiving treatment.

ATHLETIC (from): Brill, Marrow, Gilbert, Hazell, Gregan, Holdsworth, Worthington, Furman, Taylor, Abbott, Parker, Kazimierczak, Whitaker, O’Grady, Byfield, Lomax, Alessandra, Lee, Stephens.

Defender Adam Chambers, who has missed the Os first two league matches with a calf strain, is their only regular who will be missing.




LATICS left-back Joe Jacobson is to have a scan which will reveal whether he needs a hernia operation. The specialist who Jacobson has consulted is hoping surgery may not be needed.






ATHLETIC’S development squad lost 2-0 at Liverpool in a behind-closed doors friendly which was arranged to give the Anfield club’s Slovakian international defender Martin Skrtel a game on his return from a hamstring injury.