I don’t know how I missed admits Taylor

UP FOR THE FIGHT . . . Chris Taylor is convinced Athletic have the resilience to fend off relegation despite their problems.

Defiant winger vows to make amends

BOUNDARY PARK LIFE: ATHLETIC winger Chris Taylor admits he couldn't quite believe he didn't equalise against Brighton.

Chasing down a flicked header from Pawel Abbott which was well saved by goalkeeper Peter Brezovan, Taylor arrived at the far post, got his left foot to the ball and directed it goalwards – only for the Albion ’keeper to react and make a second superb stop in the matter of only a couple of seconds.

Had the 23-year-old managed to find the net, only four minutes after Elliott Bennett's superb opener for the visitors at Boundary Park, Athletic would have emerged for the second half confident of gaining at least a point.

But, in accordance with what has been a desperately disappointing season for Dave Penney's side, it didn't happen.

"It was a good save from the goalkeeper but, in fairness, I expected to score from there," said Taylor, who has only one goal for this season compared to 11 last time.

"It was a bad miss. I thought I had scored and once I got there in front of the defender I thought 'it is in'.

"I haven't seen a replay of it and I think it was a decent save, but I have got to score there. It would have made it 1-1 and we would have been right back in it."

Frustration grew among the home supporters as another game slipped away from Athletic, who are only three points away from the League One relegation zone but with three sides between them and the bottom four.

Taylor hopes that fans who have recently voiced their displeasure at the management can provide much-needed vocal support for the upcoming series of crucial matches — starting with Brentford at home on Tuesday night and Gillingham at Boundary Park four days later.

"It hasn't been good and it is the weirdest time I have experienced since I have been here," Taylor said.

"We have to just try and get through it and get these results we need to stay up.

"Obviously the fans feel that they have a right to their say as some performances clearly have not been good enough.

"In the first half, we had more than enough chances to score two or three goals even though Brighton played the better football.

"They kept it for long periods, but never really threatened apart from a wonder goal and an own goal. That was the difference.

"It is horrible having to come off the pitch when you know it isn't going well.

"You can hear the frustration and the anger. Everyone feels it and we all need to put it right.

"It is hard, but hopefully there will be better times. I hope the fans keep getting behind the team.

"We are grateful for their support and we all need to stick together and pull in the same direction to avoid relegation.

"I don't think we are a million miles away and a few more wins and we will be okay.

"The next two home games are massive. We should be getting some points on the board from those and that should hopefully pull us away from those teams below us."