Perfect mix for promotion charge

I'M behind you . . . Athletic’s goal hero Oumare Tounkara puts his Huddersfield Town opponent under pressure.

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Athletic 1, Huddersfield 0
THE EDIFICE may be crumbling, but manager Paul Dickov appears to be building something special on the field at Boundary Park.

A single Oumare Tounkara strike was enough to give Athletic a hugely impressive and thoroughly deserved three points against ambitious Huddersfield Town in the first 1-0 win of the season.

The final score could easily have been far more emphatic.

While home goalkeeper Dean Brill was a virtual spectator for much of the game, Town’s 39-year-old custodian Ian Bennett produced a string of excellent saves to prevent Chris Taylor, Tounkara and Cedric Evina from notching a second goal.

And Damian Johnson had to be alert to clear a Jean-Yves Mvoto header away from underneath his own crossbar.

There was no doubt that self-confident Athletic were by some distance the better side on the day — exciting and incisive in the first half and resolute, smart and determined after that.

That says plenty about the standard of side Dickov has put together on a budget which is dwarfed by Huddersfield’s.

A glance at the team sheet gave a clear indication of the challenge the home side faced in taking on the big-spenders.

The likes of ex-Ipswich winger Gary Roberts, well-travelled striker Alan Lee and goalkeeper Alex Smithies, who has received England under-21s call-ups, were all not deemed worthy of starting the game.

Yet this young and vibrant Athletic side does not seem to take reputations into account when going about its business.

Hard-working and effective up front, dominant in midfield with a keen eye for the quick break forward and strong and stubborn at the back, all the ingredients appear to be present for a strong push this season.

A third of the way through the campaign, it may now be fair to suggest that a play-off place is a clear and attainable goal.

That the team is stimulating such speculation is quite something against the backdrop of financial strife, falling crowds and a rough-hewn home ground which doesn’t so much resemble a fortress as a recreation ground.

The first excitement of an entertaining opening period came when a stretching Taylor scythed down Huddersfield captain Peter Clarke in front of the Athletic dug-out.

Surprisingly, referee Simon Hooper didn’t even give a foul, let alone award the Athletic star a yellow card.

The incident served to not-so-politely in-form Huddersfield that they were in a game.

Clarke was again felled after 11 minutes under a robust challenge from Tounkara, who was back defending in his own penalty area.

Hooper opted against awarding a spot-kick, much to the disgust of the band of 3,665 supporters in the crowd, who had made the short hop over the Pennines.

Athletic had started the contest brightly with enthusiastic Filipe Morais, starting on the right wing, catching the eye.

Dean Furman — restored to the starting line-up along with Kieran Lee, as expected — had a strong effort parried away and Taylor could only poke the rebound against the legs of Bennett, who came out sharply to close down the ball.

Graham Carey wasted Town’s best first-half chance. Anthony Pilkington, who came off the field injured after 39 minutes, dinked in a cross which fell to the on-loan Celtic player at the far post. But he directed his driven volley a yard wide of the far post with Brill beaten.

Tounkara’s goal followed and it perfectly described Athletic’s sharpness on the day.

Furman gained possession, fired a ball into Taylor’s feet which was then returned to him first-time, and then followed up with a slick, perfectly weighted through ball which cut Huddersfield open and allowed Tounkara a run at goal.

Bennett blocked his initial effort, but the powerful striker deserved the rub of the green to turn in at the second time of asking for his fourth goal of the season.

Another lovely move just after the half-hour ended with Morais fluffing his kick from Tounkara’s cut-back and soon after the pair linked again.

The Portuguese winger twisted and turned this way and the other to bamboozle the visiting defence and slipped in Tounkara, who forced Bennett into an excellent diving stop to turn the ball around the far post.

That came after Damian Johnson had been booked for stupidly kicking the ball against the back of a prone Evina, Reuben Hazell also seeing yellow for his part in the ensuing melee.

Evina saw a good connection curl only a yard wide of the far post and Dale Stephens also went close.

The main wonder at half-time was how on earth Athletic weren’t further goals to the good.

Athletic came close shortly after half-time. Morais was again the instigator, but as the home side broke in good numbers, Taylor volleyed an awkward effort weakly wide from a good position.

Huddersfield made a change at half-time with Alan Lee replacing Jordan Rhodes up front, and looked to play a direct game.

Lee was close with a header which drifted wide of the far post from a Scott Arfield cross, but the game as a whole became scrappy, with Athletic content to battle it out with plenty of men behind the ball.

Evina forced a superb reaction save from Bennett as Tounkara slipped him in on the reverse angle, showing Athletic to still offer the bigger threat when breaking forward.

There was plenty of hustle and bustle from Huddersfield, but not a single serious chance as Athletic’s impressive defensive unit stood firm on an afternoon to remember.


Next game— Saturday (v Dag and Red, away, npower League One)