Dickov hails show of steel

CHRIS Taylor tries to evade his Sheffield Wednesday marker at Hillsborough last night

PAUL Dickov was left delighted with the way his side rolled up their sleeves to claim a useful point at Sheffield Wednesday.

In a game of few chances for either side, the goalless draw lifts Athletic one place in npower League One to ninth ahead of the visit of Leyton Orient to Boundary Park on Saturday.

And while slightly regretting the fact his men couldn’t squeeze out a win against the out-of-form Owls, who were without a point in their last four games, Dickov was happy to have so quickly recovered from the blow of conceding an injury-time winner to Brighton three days earlier.

“We played ever so well,” said the Athletic manager. “A clean sheet was important, as was bouncing back after Saturday.

“I can’t speak highly enough of the players. At Brighton we were disappointed, but they gave us everything they have got.

“And here again, after a seven-hour journey back with Sunday to recover and in training on Monday, to put in a performance like that was fantastic.

“I wasn’t looking too much into the previous results here. I know what it is like as I have been there myself before.

“One thing I knew was that Alan (Irvine, Wednesday’s manager) would have his team up for it and they were.

“We handled it well and also passed the ball well at times.

“I am a little bit disappointed that we haven’t won the game, without having too many chances.

“We lacked a bit in the last third in decision-making. Two or three times, if we had been better in that we may have had more shots on goal.”

Jean-Yves Mvoto was particularly impressive in a strong defensive performance against a strike force comprising established Championship players in Marcus Tudgay and Clinton Morrison.

“Things have been said about conceding late goals, but the attitude to keep the clean sheet and not concede was great,” Dickov added, who was watching Athletic reserves in a behind-closed-doors friendly against Rotherham today.

“Keep clean sheets and you always have a chance.

“Both centre-backs were fantastic. Jean has come in the last few games and has taken his chance.

“He heads the ball, at times, further than some of us can kick it. He is a big presence, aggressive, and defends as if he really means it. And Reuben complemented him.”

Unfortunately from an Athletic point of view, Hazell was awarded a yellow card in the second half and misses the Orient game through a one-match ban for accumulating five bookings this season.

On the plus side, Ryan Brooke made his first appearance of the season after coming on for the final eight minutes as a replacement for the tiring Oumare Tounkara.