Furman a safe bet to hit the target

HOT-SHOT . . . Dean Furman’s goalscoring prowess has been a bonus for Athletic.

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REUBEN Hazell is at a loss to explain which bushel Dean Furman has been hiding his light under.

A second thunderbolt strike inside eight days from the midfielder earned Athletic a point at Charlton on Saturday.

Captain Hazell, who had a solid game against former team-mate Pawel Abbott, revealed that Athletic chairman Simon Corney gave the former Glasgow Rangers man plenty of incentive by offering attractive odds against him scoring for a second week running.

And Furman duly obliged, striking home a lovely half-volley from outside the penalty area.

"I don't know where he is getting them from," said a stumped Hazell.

"Every time he has a bet with someone he wins it. I think Simon Corney gave him 20-1 before the game against him scoring again.

"It isn't just normal goals either, he is putting them in the top corner."

Furman's goal gave the 'Galacdickovs' — so-called in the Charlton programme because of Notts County's manager Craig Short's assertion the previous week that his team had made Athletic look like Real Madrid — a point to take away with them from The Valley.

But 31-year-old Hazell felt it should have been an even more productive afternoon even though he is not reading too much into the promising start which sees Athletic in second spot in npower League One.

"I am disappointed not to have won," he added. "Last season we came to Charlton, got a draw and were hanging on in the second half for dear life.

"But here we had the better of the chances and hit the post twice.

"If the lads keep playing like that, I don't see why we can't go on to do good things this season.

"Oumare (Tounkara) and Djeny (Bembo-Leta) were a handful and Feens (Warren Feeney) did well when he came on as well.

"Oumare had a couple of chances where he hit the post, Dale (Stephens) had a shot cleared off the line, Oumare had another shot saved and Brillo (Dean Brill) hasn't had a save to make other than their goal.

"I don't see why we shouldn't have won the game comfortably.

"It is early days. We weren't getting carried away because we were top of the table and we know it is going to be a long and tough season.

"Coming to places like Charlton and getting points will always help, but it is too early to look at the league right now."

Hazell lost his centre-back partner Jason Jarrett near the end of the game after he picked up two yellow cards.

And he believes his partner in the heart of defence, who has excelled in a position completely fresh to him this season, was harshly punished.

"It was never a sending-off," Hazell said. "Because it was right outside their dug-out their manager was in the linesman's ear who then relayed it to the referee to send him off.

"No chance. He just held his ground and their guy fell over.

"The second yellow should never have been given. I am disappointed for Jason. He has come in and done a really decent job.

"Hopefully he won't lose his place because of this, because he has been magnificent for us since the start of the season."