Hazell blow

REUBEN HAZELL: The defender will miss the Boxing Day clash at home to Tranmere Rovers.

1 More Image(s) In Gallery

CRISIS AT THE BACK AFTER CENTRE-HALF PICKS UP BAN

ATHLETIC manager Dave Penney is facing a defensive crisis after Reuben Hazell received a one-match suspension at Wycombe.

The centre-back, thrust into the action as an emergency measure at Adams Park due to the loss of injury victims Joe Jacobson (calf), Kelvin Lomax (groin) and Paul Black (groin), grabbed Athletic’s second goal on Saturday with a header from a Dale Stephens corner.

It topped an impressive effort from the 30-year-old, who declared himself fit to travel south with the team after missing the last three matches with a calf strain.

But an 81st-minute foul on Wycombe substitute Jon-Paul Pittman blotted Hazell’s copybook by providing him with a fifth yellow card of the season.

It means he misses the forthcoming Boxing Day test against Tranmere, to the disappointment of Penney.

“In an ideal world we wouldn’t have played him,” said Penney of Hazell’s inclusion in the side for a game dominant Athletic should have taken three points from.

“But fair play to Reuben, he declared himself fit and was excellent.

“He has five bookings now and we are going to miss him.

“It is a blow to us and means we will have to rejig the defence once again.”

With Andy Holdsworth out long-term having undergone surgery on his knee, Athletic are looking at the possibility of being without up to five first-team defenders for Tranmere’s visit to Boundary Park.

In addition, captain Sean Gregan is walking a suspension tightrope. He is currently on four yellow cards and will incur a ban should he be booked in either the Tranmere or Hartlepool games, which both arrive before the cut-off date of December 31.

Keigan Parker was another player absent at the weekend due to illness.

Despite the continuing personnel problems, Penney — whose side dropped three places to 19th in Coca-Cola League One after last weekend’s result — is hopeful of having some of his top men back soon.

“We had 10 senior players missing (at Wycombe), which was a blow, and we are hoping we get some of them back for the Christmas period,” he said, confirming that Chris Taylor (hamstring) and Pawel Abbott (hernia) could be ready for this weekend.

Saturday’s game was only confirmed as taking place following an 11am inspection of the areas surrounding Adams Park. The pitch was playable due to undersoil heating.