Don’t panic!

ATHLETIC boss Dave Penney is hoping for a much-needed win at home to Brentford tomorrow.

UNDER-FIRE Athletic boss Dave Penney insists his team can return to winning ways and climb from the League One relegation zone to a position of mid-table safety.

Fourth from bottom of the table and with only one win in their last 12 matches, Athletic are in desperate need of an injection of confidence following a string of disappointing results and the failure to score goals in their last two home games.

But an upbeat Penney said: “We don’t want to be where we are, but there’s no panic stations at the moment.

“We will keep our heads down, keep working hard and, hopefully, the results will come.”

Having picked up only one point from their last two home matches, Athletic are acutely aware of the importance of tomorrow’s home game against Brentford, which will be followed by a trip to basement boys Stockport on Tuesday and an away game at fellow strugglers Tranmere tomorrow week.

Athletic are League One’s lowest goalscorers with only 20 from 25 games and Penney admitted: “It’s not rocket science. If you don’t score goals, you are not going to win football matches.

“I feel we are snatching at chances, but we are working hard on our finishing and our set-pieces at training. We have to start scoring some ugly goals — it doesn’t matter how we get a goal as long as we get one.”

Penney confirmed he had been making inquiries about bringing in new players, but pointed out that Athletic had the option of signing personnel on loan a week after Monday’s transfer deadline.

With the emphasis on goals, it is extremely unlikely Athletic will pursue any interest in centre half Hasney Aljofree, who played for the reserves in Wednesday night’s 0-0 draw at Middlesbrough.

But utility player Jim Goodwin, whose loan deal expires on Saturday, is expected to be retained for a second month.

His club, Huddersfield, have no objections and Goodwin is needed at full-back with Kelvin Lomax on the injury list.

Athletic have no new injury concerns for tomorrow’s match against a Brentford side for whom Penney has plenty of respect.

“They won their league last season and have taken confidence from that. They are in the top 10 and have added well this season, so it won’t be an easy game, that’s for sure,” he said.

Penney also encouraged Athletic fans to back the team during this difficult period but, when asked if he hoped to see more supporters turn out than in the previous two home games, when only 3,688 and 3,656 attended, he said: “Yes, as long as they get behind the team.”