Penney stays positive after latest defeat

SO CLOSE: Pawel Abbott powers a header against the bar.

ATHLETIC were left bemoaning missed opportunities once again after a dominant performance at Huddersfield yielded no points.

Playing with a five-man midfield, the visitors took the game by the scruff of its neck at the Galpharm Stadium but failed to convert numerous first-half chances.

Theo Robinson scored two goals, the second of which came in injury time after Kieran Lee had been sent off15 minutes from the end for picking up two yellow cards.

It leaves Athletic 19th in the Coca-Cola League One table with only one match in hand over their fellow relegation battlers.

“It is three points we haven’t got and that they have,” said Penney, who described both Lee’s bookings as “harsh” on the player.

“You can say what you want about the performance, which was excellent, but we have got to take our chances.

“The second goal is irrelevant as we are gambling with 10 men to try and get something out of the game.

“The first goal was sloppy from our point of view. But you look at it and we have had three or four decent chances that we haven’t taken.

“That has been the story of our season. We haven’t taken chances when they have been there for us and have made mistakes which have led to us conceding goals.

“It sums us up. Performance-wise we were excellent. We were excellent in possession and made good chances.

“It is a cruel game at times.”

Huddersfield’s first goal seven minutes before half-time was converted by Robinson after Reuben Hazell’s stooping header hit Dale Stephens on the back.

But Penney felt his side should already have held the lead by that point, with Tom Eaves missing a late chance to bag an equaliser.

“We should clear it better,” he said of Robinson’s strike.

“It is a header which hits someone’s back and drops down, and he finishes it well to be fair.

“We have had the better chances today, that is for sure.

“Pawel Abbott had one hit the crossbar and then he had a ‘dink’ when he should perhaps smash it.

“Then Tom had a bit more time than he realised which he will get with experience.

“There are a lot of positives to take out of the performance, which is probably our best of the season.”

Penney also revealed that captain Sean Gregan was not only playing with a pair of injury knocks but was also suffering the effects of a stomach bug which had ruled out goalkeeper Darryl Flahavan from taking part against Gillingham.