Boss puts on a brave face

Dave Penney: frustration

Goalless draw leaves Latics in relegation zone

DAVE PENNEY blamed rustiness for Athletic’s drab performance which left the team in relegation trouble in Coca-Cola League One.

A goalless draw at home to Tranmere Rovers leaves Penney’s men in the relegation zone, level on points with 19th-placed Gillingham but with an inferior goal difference.

The clash at Boundary Park — played out in front of only 3,688 fans, 659 of whom had travelled from Tranmere — failed to ever get going.

And Penney, who admits that the next two home matches against Millwall on Saturday and Brentford the following week are of increasing importance, said both teams felt the effects of an enforced lay-off due to frost and snow.

“I was happy to get a game and happy to get that performance out of the way,” said Penney after Athletic’s second match this month.

“From both teams, you could see that they had not played 11 versus 11 for a long time, or probably not been on grass for a long time other than the last couple of days.

“I think it showed in the performances that both teams are not used to playing 90 minutes.

“Both teams tired and the injured players we were bringing back, Chris Taylor and Pawel Abbott, also tired markedly towards the end of it.

“It was nice to get a game, nice to get 90 minutes and get the rustiness out of the way.

“I don’t think it was a great game of football. Overall it was a poor game, from both sides who struggled to make an impact and dictate.

“As the game went on we had a couple of chances in the second half that were kicked off the line.”

Athletic have now just won only once in 11 matches and have scored less League One goals than any other side including bottom-of-the-table Stockport.

“We have dropped down there (in the table) because of results we haven’t picked up and the games we haven’t played,” added Penney, who has now seen his side draw a blank in front of goal in 14 matches in all competitions this season.

“So it is important we do get points in our next two home games coming up.”