Back in the firing line

CHRIS Taylor (pictured) and Pawel Abbott are expected to start against Tranmere Rovers tonight.

Taylor and Abbott to boost Latics

ATHLETIC boss Dave Penney has dropped a hint that Chris Taylor and Pawel Abbott WILL both start tonight’s important home game against Tranmere Rovers.

Taylor hasn’t played from the off since scoring in the 2-2 home draw against Col-chester in November, while Abbott has been absent from the starting line-up following the 1-0 Boundary Park defeat to Huddersfield Town earlier the same month.

But despite both players only having managed little over 20 minutes of football since their respective lay-offs, Penney seems ready to gamble as he searches for three crucial Coca-Cola League One points to lift Athletic out of the relegation zone.

“We have got them fitter — but we haven’t got them match fit and we will have to see how they last during the game, obviously,” said Penney.

“We are getting there, with Deane Smalley and Keigan Parker (as fit strikers) too. We have options now.

“You could see in the Hartlepool game the quality Taylor and Abbott have got and they take us to another level attacking-wise.”

Athletic were done no favours by last night’s results, with Leyton Orient leapfrogging Penney’s side by virtue of their 2-0 home win over Yeovil.

Penney knows that with the Tranmere test being followed by consecutive Boundary Park clashes with Brentford and Millwall, his side need to cash in to overtake their near-rivals.

“We are three or four games behind on some teams and with three home games in a row it is important that we pick points up,” he added.

“Tranmere have changed the manager with the physio taking charge and he has done well and got them working for each other.

“There are no easy games with everyone fighting for points and we are no different.”

Reuben Hazell is back in contention after serving a one-match ban against Hartlepool and and Alex Marrow is fit again after recovering from his head injury.

ATHLETIC (probable): Brill; Hazell, Timar, Gregan, Jacobson; Smalley, Stephens, Goodwin, Whitaker; Taylor, Abbott. Subs (from): Ollerenshaw, McKerr, Marrow, Black, Furman, Colbeck, Rowney, Lee, Parker, Brooke.