Dickov lauds Taylor show

Photo: Max Flego

MILES OF SMILES: Chris Taylor (centre) shows his delight after putting Athletic in front against Brentford on Saturday.

CHRIS Taylor is close to his best form in an Athletic shirt.

That is the verdict of his manager Paul Dickov, who watched on in delight as the winger-turned-striker lashed in a goal and earned a penalty in the 3-1 win at Brentford on Saturday.

The 23-year-old now has four goals in his last seven matches, with the last four games seeing him employed in a roving striker’s role.

And his overall impact is enough for Dickov to suggest Taylor is primed to once again take the division by storm in the same manner he managed before last season’s disappointments.

“He was great and was a threat,” said Dickov, whose side recovered well from the setback of conceding a fourth-minute goal.

“Chris is getting back to the form which he showed two seasons ago.

“He scored a great goal, won a penalty and he and Oumare (Tounkara) were a right handful for their defence.

“Every time the ball went up to the two of them, it looked like we might score.”

Only four points clear of the relegation zone before the weekend’s npower League One games were played out, Athletic are now a mere two points away from an automatic promotion spot.

Dickov was pleased with the resilience once again showed by his side in recovering from going a goal down.

No other team in the division has won as many points as Athletic have this season — eight — after conceding the first goal in a game.

Athletic’s player-boss, who didn’t feature from the substitutes’ bench, said a pep talk at half-time and Taylor’s well-taken strike just afterwards proved to be key.

“At half-time we were disappointed with the goal we conceded and a couple of other things,” said Dickov, whose side are now one spot off the play-offs in seventh, with Colchester the visitors to Boundary Park on Saturday.

“We said to the players, take on board what we are telling you and eradicate the mistakes, pass the ball well and we will create chances to go and win the game.

“It was a great time to score the second goal as it quelled their crowd a bit and put them on a bit of a downer.

“We wanted energy, but in the right places.

“We attacked with purpose and went forward with a lot of pace and power.

“We are a good team when we press and win the ball high up in the opposition half, because we have got good players who are all high-energy.”