Penney gets back to basics

Joe Jacobson in line for a Latics start.

GETTING the basics right is the name of the game as far as Athletic boss Dave Penney is concerned ahead of his side’s visit to Norwich City.

Penney feels that his injury-hit squad, without the suspended Alex Marrow tomorrow, paid the price against Leeds in midweek due to minor elementary errors right across the pitch.

While Athletic face a huge challenge in attempting to take anything from a game against a Norwich side performing excellently in recent weeks to soar into third spot in Coca-Cola League One, Penney is hopeful that a rare goal at Carrow Road can help spark his struggling team into the sort of life shown in the earlier months of the season.

“We are not doing the basics right, the ugly side of the game,” said Penney, who adds midfielder Chris Rowney to the squad which travels south today.

“The tackling and covering, all the unseen stuff that stops you conceding goals we are not quite doing right at the moment.

“At the other end against Leeds, we had two great chances from Joe Colbeck crosses in the first half and if you get one or two of those goals it is a different game – an MK Dons game, where the players are full of confidence and carry it on.

“We haven’t got that big a squad where we can carry the injuries we have at the moment. We have seven real first-teamers injured and whereas teams like Leeds and Norwich can carry that, we can’t.

“The other side of the coin is, it gives youngsters the chance to come in and show what they can do.”

One player who looks set to be given that opportunity tomorrow is Joe Jacobson, the logical replacement for Marrow in the heart of the defence.

Brought to the club from Bristol Rovers as a left-sided defender, Jacobson has played at centre-back in recent reserve outings and could step up for his first Athletic start, though Kelvin Lomax is also a possibility of switching to the middle from right-back.

Goalkeeper Darryl Flahavan’s loan deal from Crystal Palace expires after the game.

Athletic (probable): Flahavan; Lomax, Gregan, Jacobson, Black; Parker, Whitaker, Furman, Colbeck; Smalley, Heffernan. Subs: Brill, McKerr, Lee, Stephens, Rowney, Blackman, Brooke.

Norwich boss Paul Lambert, who has watched his side surge up the table thanks to eight wins in 10 matches, has a couple of injury worries ahead of the game.

Left-back Adam Drury came off at half-time in the midweek 3-0 win at Southend with an ankle injury and is a doubt, along with midfielder Darel Russell (dead leg) who missed that game.

Norwich (probable): Forster; R Martin, Doherty, Askou, Drury; Smith, Hughes, Hoolahan, Lappin; Holt, Martin. Subs (from): Steer, Nelson, Adeyemi, McNamee, McVeigh, Daley, McDonald, Russell.