Penney looks for goal threat

Dave Penney

DAVE PENNEY wants his goal-shy team to take the pressure off the back line.

Athletic take on Gillingham at the Priestfield Stadium tomorrow boasting the second-best defensive record on the road in the whole of Coca-Cola League One.

Three consecutive clean sheets have been picked up in as many games by a side that seems to enjoy playing away from Boundary Park, but an overall record of a mere 13 goals in the league all season – six of them scored by injured striker Pawel Abbott – has left Penney appealing for the team as a whole to chip in.

“The lack of goals is a worry as it means you have to keep clean sheets to get something out of the game,” said Penney, who has seen his side slide to 13th in the League One table after home defeats to big- spending pair Southampton and Huddersfield.

“We need to score more goals. We haven’t scored enough, it is as simple as that.

“We haven’t scored enough from set pieces, or midfield or wide areas. Hopefully now we have Chris Taylor and Deane Smalley back, we can get some goals from there.”

Abbott has now returned to the country following his hernia operation in Germany, which wasn’t as straightforward as was hoped.

He is looking at between four to six weeks on the sidelines and though Smalley played up front with Keigan Parker for the home game against Leeds last week, Penney could opt to start Ryan Brooke – an impressive goalscorer in a behind-closed-doors friendly against Morecambe in midweek – or on-loan Nick Blackman, ruled ineligible by parent club Blackburn for the FA Cup tie.

Whoever is selected, Penney is expecting a tough game against a Gillingham side strong at home despite their lowly position sixth from bottom of the division.

He said: “They are decent at home and will come at us early doors, that is for sure.”

Athletic (probable): Flahavan, Holdsworth, Hazell, Gregan, Hills, Whitaker, Marrow, Furman, Taylor, Brooke, Parker. Subs: Brill, Black, Jacobson, Smalley, Lee, Colbeck, Blackman.

Gillingham, who have won only once in the league since mid-September, are without striker Simeon Jackson – in Canada’s squad – and suspended skipper Barry Fuller at right-back.

Dennis Oli and Andy Pugh are competing with Mark McCammon for a striking spot, while Jack Payne, Chris Palmer or Stuart Lewis will fill in for Fuller.

Gillingham (from): Royce, Nutter, Richards, Fry, Gowling, Maher, Payne, Bentley, Lewis, Yussuff, Weston, Palmer, Brandy, Barcham, Rooney, Oli, McCammon, Pugh, Julian.