Ready and raring to go

DEAN FURMAN . . . the Athletic midfielder said the players’ pride was “seriously dented” after the Southampton defeat.

ATHLETIC midfielder Dean Furman has revealed every member of the squad is desperate to play at Plymouth Argyle tomorrow in a bid to make amends for the 6-0 defeat to Southampton.

Furman, one of Paul Dickov’s star performers in the npower League One campaign, admitted the players were hurting after being torn to shreds by Nigel Adkins’ outfit at Boundary Park.

And they are determined to get the play-off push back on track, starting with victory over the Pilgrims.

“Our pride was seriously dented after the Southampton game. It was a bad experience,” he said.

“The result has not been taken lightly. No-one should be happy about what happened.

“We are all desperate to get back on track. Sure, we have bruised egos but with that comes a reaction.

“Obviously we are going to remember it for some time, but we have to move on.

“All of the lads are absolutely buzzing about the fact another game has come along and the chance to put things right. Everyone in the squad is chomping at the bit to feature at Plymouth.

“We have got our eyes on all three points. The great thing about football is that there is always a game around the corner.”

Furman added: “Plymouth are on a bit of a bad run, but I don’t pay any attention to that.

“All that matters is what is going on in our own camp.”


ATHLETIC are still hopeful of re-signing Leeds winger Aidan White on loan.
His Boundary Park return could not be completed in time for tomorrow’s trip to Plymouth Argyle, but chief executive Alan Hardy said: “We hope to bring Aidan back soon. He has been struggling with an ankle knock so he might not have been fit for the Plymouth game.”

Athletic squad: Amos, Hazell, Lee, Black, Evina, Trotman, Jones, Furman, Stephens, Morais, Taylor, Tounkara, Holdsworth, Brooke, Millar, Torkowski, Winchester, Feeney, Brill.