Taylor hails ‘brilliant win’

Photo: Alan Howarth

CHRIS Taylor (centre) leads the appeals for a goal in the scramble which led to Oumare Tounkara’s 72nd-minute effort.

‘Horrible’ week ends on a high for forward
CHRIS Taylor was delighted to end a “horrible” week on a high.

The Athletic winger lit up a sterile contest at Home Park by helping to create an opening goal for Dale Stephens with a mazy dribble and astute cut-back.

The strike settled down the visitors and once Oumare Tounkara had netted a second after a goalmouth scramble, a first home-and-away double of the npower League One season was secure.

A solid team performance against Plymouth was just what the doctor ordered after the midweek ordeal of a six-goal hammering by Southampton.

“It was a brilliant win,” said Taylor.

“We needed to bounce back after Tuesday’s defeat and the main thing was the three points.

“The lads put in a good performance as well, so we are very pleased.

“The Southampton game was horrible and it was the lowest I have felt after a game of football.

“I have never been beaten by that many before.

“It was tough for the lads. We held a meeting on Wednesday and we all spoke for a good hour.

“The feeling was that it was one game and that we needed to put it behind us.

“We did that and I am glad we responded quickly.”

With Northern Ireland’s Warren Feeney introduced to play alongside Tounkara up front, Taylor was switched to the left wing, where his manager Paul Dickov felt he could trouble Plymouth full-back Karl Duguid.

The 24-year-old did just that to help send Athletic on their way. 

And a clearly confident Taylor believes that he is currently recreating his best form for Athletic.

“I felt good and every time I got the ball, it felt like I was back to the old days out there on the left,” he added.

“For the goal, I went past their player and managed to pick out Dale, who finished it off well.

“It got us off to a good start in the second half.

“The manager spoke to me on the day (about reverting to the left wing) and said that he wanted to change a few things about.

“He said that he wanted to get me out on the left to get on the ball and get at them. It worked and I was very pleased with it.”

Aidan White did not feature against Plymouth but Athletic officials hope the Leeds United winger can be signed on a loan deal in order to face Brentford at Boundary Park on Saturday.


ATHLETIC’S second string are in action tomorrow night against Bolton Wanderers.
The Manchester Senior Cup tie is to be played at the Leyland home of the Lancashire County FA (7pm kick-off) and Bolton are likely to include former Athletic striker Tom Eaves in their line-up.