Hero Ben jogs memory Banks

Wonder save compared to England ace’s 1970 stunner
IT WAS a save to rank up there with the very best. Gordon Banks, eat your heart out.

When Ben Amos flung himself to his right to flick Lubo Michalik's point-blank volley over the bar, it evoked memories for some in the crowd of the most famous goalkeeping stop of all time.

For Michalik, read Pele. That isn't a sentence even the big Slovak centre-half's closest family would imagine ever coming up with — nor can Boundary Park have been compared too often to Estadio Jalisco in Guadalajara, the venue for the 1970 World Cup encounter in Mexico.

But the save by the on-loan Manchester United 'keeper really was similarly spectacular, showcasing the big potential those in the know at Old Trafford feel Amos has within him.

Ultimately, though, it counted for little as Athletic stuttered badly to a 1-0 home loss to Carlisle.

For Amos's part, he felt the visitors did a good job of emulating the path to victory taken so many times by Athletic themselves this season.

"I thought we never got going in the game," said the 20-year-old stopper.

"We looked a bit panicky on the ball, but we said in the changing room that Carlisle deserved credit.

"They pressed us all over the pitch and played us at our own game, really. They got in our faces and never gave us a second to breathe.

"It was frustrating, simply because we never got going. If we had made chances or had played well, at least we could have taken something out of the game.

"But to be honest, there aren't many positives we can pluck out of that performance.

"When you make saves, you want them to count for points. And obviously we took nothing from the game."

Further up the pitch, Amos feels Athletic moved away from the passing game that has brought rewards this season.

Three rough-and-ready matches in succession have brought only one goal for Paul Dickov's men.

Amos hopes that Athletic can find their feet once again in order to produce a level of football good enough to see off bottom club Bristol Rovers on Saturday and re-ignite the club's play-off push.

"When we play and pass the ball on the floor, we look dangerous against any team we play against," he added.

"We have been scoring goals and it is only at the weekend and against Carlisle that we haven't managed that.

"We need to get back playing well and Bristol Rovers this weekend will be a tough game, but one we need to get three points from."