Flahavan in a hurry

Boundary Park ROUNDUP: STAR man Darryl Flahavan believes that Athletic will be a different side if and when the threat of relegation is banished for the season.

The on-loan Crystal Palace goalkeeper made the first appearance of his second spell of the season with Athletic at Stockport County on Tuesday night.

He was in superb form too, denying Jabo Ibehre when the muscular striker bore down on goal and flinging an arm into the air athletically to halt a goal-bound Johnny Mullins header.

Those saves helped Athletic grind out a 1-0 victory at a sandy Edgeley Park and Flahavan hopes that his team can register a few more quick victories — starting with Brighton at Boundary Park on Saturday — in order that they can relax and play some more attractive football.

“If we can get another win it will go towards helping us hit that points target of safety, which we want to do as soon as we can,” said the 31-year-old, who played eight matches for Athletic earlier this term before suffering a fractured cheekbone in a freak incident at Wycombe Wanderers.

attitude
“It will be a huge release and will lift the pressure off everyone’s shoulders and hopefully then we can relax and play a bit more.

“We came to Stockport and it was all about attitude. A lot of teams will come here and not fancy it, and they will get turned over.

“But we dug in and in the end it was a massive three points for us. It was a great win for the boys.

“The conditions were difficult and the pitch was terrible.

“It is very difficult and we couldn’t play it from the back as we like to do simply because of the conditions — the pitch is more suited to rugby than football.

“It was bobbling everywhere and you can’t get the ball down. When it is rolling to you it is going all over the place.

“We had to play the pitch really and we did that well, getting the three points. It was a massive win for us.

“We didn’t get started in the first 20 to 25 minutes. But luckily enough I pulled off a couple of saves which I was happy with and we got to 1-0 up.

“And in the second half I felt we were very solid.”

Flahavan had to bide his time for his latest chance with Athletic, having taken up a place on the substitutes’ bench in the last nine fixtures prior to Stockport.

That was partly due to the good form of Dean Brill. Now, though, having recovered from fracturing a cheekbone after smashing into the goal frame at Adams Park, Flahavan is happy to be able to show what he can do once again.

He said: “I had the opportunity to come back and you have got to wait to get your chance.

“I was out for six or seven weeks with my broken cheekbone and it was then a case of getting match fit and sharp again.

“At the time I came back in, Dean (Brill) was doing well.

“Luckily enough I have now been given a chance again and it is up to me to take it.”