Almost there!

REARGUARD ACTION . . . Deane Smalley helps out the Athletic defence with an important header at Southampton last night.

Latics may be safe on Saturday

ATHLETIC could be safe from relegation on Saturday night – regardless of the result of their home game against Southend.

Dave Penney’s battlers claimed a creditable goalless draw at South-ampton last night to boost their survival chances.

Gained on the back of a fine defensive effort, the draw provided a fifth point in a three-game unbeaten streak away from Boundary Park.

And fourth-from-bottom Tran-mere’s 2-1 defeat at Brentford last night means that a victory over Southend in three days’ time – or a Rovers loss away at play-off chasing Colchester United – will ensure Athletic’s place in Coca-Cola League One next season.

Athletic manager Dave Penney made changes to last night’s line-up as players were suffering from fatigue following a heavy programme of fixtures.

He said: “It was always a tough place to come to and we set out our stall once again to make sure we got something out of the game.

“We didn’t have as much possession as we would have liked and that is because we gave the ball away cheaply.

“You have to admire the players for the commitment, desire, work-rate and organisation they showed to grind out a result.

“We limited them in the first half and then in the second they were gambling as they needed to win to get closer to the play-offs.

“There were a lot of long balls into the box and generally we headed them out or Darryl Flahavan came out to catch them.

“There were a couple of scary moments – but they had a couple as well.

“They went to Bristol Rovers recently and put five past them. It would have been quite easy to come here and play an open, attacking game and get battered.

“We wanted to stay in the game and get something out of it and with a bit of luck, maybe we could have nicked something.

“We are still not safe and need more points in my view, but we will carry on going out to keep picking the points up.”

Penney paid tribute to Tom Eaves, who came off the substitutes’ bench once again and nearly landed his first senior goal with a second-half run and shot.

Said Penney: “He is raw and has strength and caused them problems.

“He is one for the future and at the moment he is doing great.”



KEIGAN Parker has returned to Athletic after his month-long loan at Bury.

But the striker won’t be involved again this season after picking up an ankle injury and is set to be released in the summer.