Abbott: I was shaking for the penalty

Abbot nets from the spot

PAWEL ABBOTT was a Pole dancing with delight after Athletic’s victory at Leyton Orient.

The 27-year-old striker heaved a huge sigh of relief after scoring his first competitive goals for Athletic.

Abbott, who had been scoring freely at the end of pre-season, had been anxious to get off the mark.

He said: “Goals always give you confidence, but I think the whole team should gain confidence from this victory.

“I thought we played well as a team. The lads at the back were really good and stood firm at the end. We were probably a bit sloppy for their goal, but we more than made up for it in the remainder of the match.”

Abbott said he always felt confident in his own ability despite failing to find the net against Stockport County and Carlisle United.

He explained: “I try not to think about it too much because, when you do that, that’s when you tend to struggle.

“It was a case of getting into the right positions at the right times. Then the goals will eventually come and they did.

“For my opening goal, I had a shot with my right foot which was blocked, but it bounced nicely for me to hit it with my left and I smashed it as hard as possible.

“I think the ball swerved in the air which is why the ’keeper could only get a hand to it. I don’t mind how they go in as long as they cross the line.

“I wasn’t as cool as I may have looked for the penalty, which Andy Holdsworth did well to win. I was shaking when I stepped forward, but I saw the ’keeper go one way and I managed to put the ball the other side.”

Manager Dave Penney was delighted with his team’s performance.

He changed the shape to try to encourage more passing, and said: “I think we got the rewards from the two previous matches when we should have beaten Stockport, but couldn’t nick a goal, while the Carlisle game could have gone either way.

“There wasn’t a lot wrong in those two matches but, what was missing was an end product and we got that at Leyton Orient.

“We wanted to change our shape and see how it worked which it did. It makes you control the game and pass the ball better.

“After Orient beat Newcastle United 6-1 here, everybody was expecting a home win.

“I was disappointed with the goal we conceded, but was pleased with the way we reacted.

“We took the game to them and kept the ball very well at times.”