Mood sums up Latics’ high expectations

UP AND AT ’EM . . . Athletic frontman Warren Feeney gets to grips with Yeovil defender Paul Huntington.

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Athletic 0, Yeovil 0

THE fact Athletic’s fans and players left with a slight sense of disappointment following the 0-0 draw against Yeovil Town is a pretty strong indication of just how far the club has come since Paul Dickov’s arrival.

Unbeaten in npower League One heading into September with a renewed sense of optimism is a scenario most people connected to Athletic would have taken, had it been offered before the campaign kicked off.

And while this Boundary Park stalemate is unlikely to be mentioned by many when the season’s highlights are discussed, the strong pressure play and a solid defensive display made it another step in the right direction for the hosts.

There were no wonder goals or stirring comebacks to ponder, but the way his backline coped in the absence of the suspended Jason Jarrett — Jean-Yves Mvoto stepped in — will have pleased Dickov.

A few better-placed final passes could even have bagged all three points for Athletic, although their opponents’ second-half performance made a draw the fairest outcome.

Yet again the work-rate was there for all to see. Tracking back and covering for a team-mate is a message the Scot has hammered home since filling the managerial hotseat and, among others, the tireless Ritchie Jones turned in another busy display.

Athletic started very much on the front foot, and Chris Taylor’s 30-yard strike after three minutes stung the fingers of goalkeeper John Sullivan, who managed to steer it for a corner.

Four minutes later Warren Feeney — the frontman was restored to the starting line-up in place of Djeny Bembo-Leta — cleverly fed Jones inside the penalty area, only for the midfielder’s powerful effort to scream wide of the right-hand post.

Yeovil gained strength from the fact the scores remained level and the lively Andy Williams provided their first threat of the game after 20 minutes.

His wicked cross from the left only required an out-stretched boot but it evaded everyone.

Ten minutes before the interval Williams again made himself a handful, turning in the box and unleashing a wicked drive from 14 yards out, which Mvoto managed to block at the expense of a wasted corner.

Athletic had one more crack at goal prior to the break. Taylor, who looked the most likely home player to break the deadlock, controlled Oumare Tounkara’s neat pass down the channel before his vicious shot was palmed over by Sullivan.

Dean Furman, the midfield maestro of recent weeks, was booked just before the half-time whistle for a late challenge on Williams near the centre circle.

Despite the odd moment of promise here and there, Athletic’s were unable to create any real clearcut chances.

The visitors had a big shout for a penalty after 50 minutes when full-back Paul Black seemed to fell Andy Williams when the wide man cut into the area, but referee Oliver Langford decided he won enough of the ball.

Feeney’s last contribution before being replaced by Bembo-Leta on the hour mark was a clever chipped pass to strike partner Tounkara, who was beaten to the ball by the on-rushing Sullivan.

Bembo-Leta looked sharp after his introduction but fell into the same trap as many of his colleagues by misplacing that crucial final ball.

The visitors looked dangerous from set-pieces, and a free kick or corner looked increasingly likely to be their best chance of a breakthrough.

It could have come when Nathan Smith’s long punt found its way to forward Owain Tudor-Jones, but his header was directed straight at Dean Brill.

Athletic’s frustration grew, but a yellow card picked up by Reuben Hazell for a supposedly mistimed challenge on Dean Bowditch looked harsh.

With a quarter-of-an-hour remaining Dickov sent on Dean Smalley for Taylor, who had run out of steam following an impressive shift, and Smalley did his chances of future selection no harm with some fine distribution.

The final roll of the dice from the bench saw Furman make way for Dean Kelly, who caught the eye immediately with a delightful curling pass to switch flanks to Kieran Lee. In fact Lee was involved in the home side’s best remaining moves.

First his fine long pass to Tounkara saw the target man control it before blasting the ball into the side-netting with six minutes left.

Then at the other end Brill tipped Paul Huntington’s header over from an Andy Williams delivery before flapping at the subsequent corner, which found its way to J P Kalala, whose shot was deflected away by Mvoto.

That man Lee beat three men on a break down the right only to be stopped- fairly in the referee’s eyes — by Tudor-Jones in the box.

With just seconds remaining, Brill completely missed his kick to the horror of the home faithful but, with substitute Luke Freeman eyeing an empty net, Hazell beat him to the ball and cleared it to safety.


Dickov full of praise for players’ attitude

THE stalemate at home to Yeovil Town may not have delighted Athletic boss Paul Dickov, but the reaction of his players after the goalless draw pleased him.

His side played some nice stuff in the final third with plenty of trickery, but failed to carve out a decent sight of goal after the break.

The point does, however, maintain their unbeaten start to the npower League One campaign.

While the shot-shy hosts never bettered their opening 15-minute spell, the Scot took positives from the game and is pleased with the mentality around the squad.

He said: “Overall all I am a bit disappointed with our attacking play, but you have to give credit to Yeovil Town, they have come here, worked hard and played very well.

“Unfortunately for us, in the second half I cannot remember their goalkeeper having to make a save. The final ball wasn’t right and we didn’t make enough clearcut chances.

“That said, you have to always take the positives from matches — we kept a clean sheet and are unbeaten in the first four league games of the season.

“The lads are in the dressing room are acting like they have been beaten and that is because they want to win. Their mentality is good.”

The manager was disappointed his side did not mirror the first 15 minutes of the match, which saw them race out of the blocks.

“We started brightly and had a good spell, which Yeovil managed to deal with. We are getting a bit more respect from sides now.

“They came back into the match after that. It is up to us to be a bit cleverer when we are trying to break the opposition down and to find that killer pass.

“Going forward we played a lot of one-touch football but sometimes you have to take a couple of steps back and be a bit more cute.

“The fans probably expected a bit more and we expected more. The reaction of my players afterwards shows me they know they can do better.

“We have come up against a difficult team. It is disrespectful of people to make Yeovil Town one of the favourites for relegation this season.”

Dickov backed goalkeeper Dean Brill despite the last-gasp howler that could have easily handed the Glovers all three points.

He said: “It was nearly a goal before the end but Dean comes and claims those 99.9 per cent of the time. It was one of those things.”

The manager was also quick to play down any fears of a fresh injury knock for the impressive Chris Taylor, who is still finding his way back to full fitness.

Taylor was replaced by Deane Smalley late in the second half but the switch was designed to give him a well-earned break.

Dickov said: “Chris wasn’t injured. He played very well and is still coming back so the idea was to give him a long run-out, which will have done him good I’m sure.

“It was the same with Warren Feeney. They both need time but they are both training well and it was a good work-out for the pair of them.”

Yeovil Town boss Terry Skiverton was full of praise for his opposite number after the match.

He said: “Paul is doing a very good job for Oldham already, under difficult circumstances.

“They have started well, he has got them playing football and I am sure they will be a difficult prospect for teams this season.

“It is probably a point gained for us rather than two points lost.”