Dickov’s joy at maximum points haul

PAUL DICKOV saluted a hard-working performance from his players after Athletic secured a second consecutive league ‘double’ against Brentford.

Fresh from seeing off Plymouth for the second time this season at Home Park seven days earlier, they clinched victory with goals from Oumare Tounkara and a first for the club by Filipe Morais.

Robbie Simpson’s sweet volley eight minutes from the end of the regular 90 minutes tweaked a few nerves — particularly among the players and fans present at Boundary Park on the night Athletic let a three-goal lead slip away against Exeter City.

But despite Neal Trotman retiring injured to leave 18-year-old James Tarkowski facing a big task on his debut in professional football, the home team held on to make it two wins from two games against the Bees.

“I was disappointed not to keep a clean sheet at the end, but I thought that if the game had finished 2-0, 3-0 or 4-0 nobody could have argued with that,” said Dickov, whose team stay eighth in the division.

“We were on top for most of the game. We lost the goal towards the end — it was a fantastic finish from their kid — and it does put you under a bit of pressure.

“But overall I am delighted with the three points and getting back to winning ways at home.

“Their goal was their first shot on target. To be fair to Simpson, he pulled out a fantastic touch and a great finish.

“In too many games I have played and now managed in, 2-0 is a dangerous score.

“They got the goal, got their tails up a bit and we were defending towards the end.

“With us being so young and bearing in mind what happened in the Exeter game a few weeks ago, you can feel the place getting a bit edgy — both the crowd and the players.

“It is important to see it out and though we are getting better at it, we can still be better.

“But overall, I can’t see anyone arguing with us getting three points as before the goal, we were excellent.”

Tounkara’s well-taken opener gave Athletic a deserved first-half lead and his contribution, along with that of lively substitute Morais, was praised by Dickov, who also felt Tarkowski did well partnering Reuben Hazell in central defence late on.

“I am delighted for the big man (Tounkara),” Dickov added. “He has been working ever so hard and doesn’t always get his rewards.

“I was pleased with the goal as well because we had worked on it in training, with midfielders and wingers coming in off the line and sliding in the front men.

“You could see it happening on the pitch and Oumare thoroughly deserved his goal.

“I said to him that he should have shot with the chance he had before that.

“He has got great ability, Filipe. Whether he plays on the left or the right, he has two great feet and it is hard for full-backs to work out which way he is going.

“We want all our players to be positive in everything they do and especially our forward players.

“When they get the ball they have the ability to get at people and we want them to do that.

“Young Tarky came on and made some good tackles and a couple of good blocks.

“To get back-to-back wins after the Southampton game shows the character we have got here.”

Brentford manager Andy Scott left Boundary Park an unhappy man.

“We got what we deserved,” he said. “In fact, we got more than we deserved because we scored a goal.

“We knew all about the enthusiasm and energy Oldham play with, but we didn’t cope with it and gave away the ball too cheaply.”