Price looking to regain his sharpness

PARK LIFE:

ATHLETIC forward Jason Price admits he and strike partner Pawel Abbott are not yet up to full speed fitness-wise.

The 32-year-old, on a month's loan from Athletic's League One rivals Millwall, nodded home a late goal at Swindon to open his account for the club and had another ruled out due to a marginal offside decision as the team suffered defeat.

Boss Dave Penney felt that the front two could have held up the ball better — and Price agrees with that assessment while promising more is to come.

"We are both not match-fit at the moment and that is why after an hour we looked a bit tired," said Price, whose current loan spell takes in Saturday's home match with Walsall and the difficult games against Colchester (away), Leeds (away) and Norwich (home).

"I hadn't played for six weeks and now have played two games in four days and Pawel has been out for a long time injured.

"We didn't really play particularly well (at Swindon) and we can play a lot better in terms of holding the ball up. It gives the team a boost then.

"In a couple more games we will be match-fit and then, hopefully, we will be scoring goals."

Price is in no doubt from what he has seen that Athletic have the quality to climb away from trouble, provided they start hitting the target on a more regular basis.

"We have played against a top side in Swindon, but have outplayed them for most of the game," he added.

"We didn't come away with a win but that is football — and it is a lesson that you have to take your chances."