Latics a match for best – Dickov

PAUL Dickov is backing his boys to raise their game against the best npower League One has to offer.

Athletic's next three fixtures, starting with tonight's visit to MK Dons (7.45pm kick-off), are all against sides currently sitting in the top six in the division.

That sequence of matches follows a period in which Athletic picked up only two points from their last four games, two of which were against sides battling relegation.

Dickov, though, points to past evidence that his Athletic side are capable of going toe-to-toe with some of the more fancied sides in the division.

A win at Stadium:mk would send Athletic above MK Dons and back into the play-off places.

"I am not worried about it at all," said the Athletic manager in reference to a fixture list which features matches at home to fourth-placed Peterborough on Saturday and away at Bournemouth, in second, a week later.

"The lads have shown, especially at Boundary Park but also in matches like the draw at Charlton and at Brighton — where we lost, but should have won the game — that in games we play against the top footballing sides in the division we can more than compete.

"Southampton was the exception, but I fancy us all the time, I really do. These games suit the way we play.

"Whether it is the pressure put on the players or not, the games we are expecting to win are when we can be at our worst."

Dickov could pick midfield linchpin Dale Stephens again tonight (see story opposite) for a game against a Dons side renowned for their passing game under the league's youngest manager, 30-year-old Karl Robinson.

"It will be tough for us, but it will be a good football game," Dickov added.

"Karl likes to get his team playing the right way, as we try to do.

"It will be a game that will have a lot of chances in it. And the team that defends properly will be the one that comes out on top."


ATHLETIC will today submit a twin defence to FA charges.
Assistant manager Gerry Taggart is facing an improper conduct accusation following a flare-up near the touchline in last week's home game against Carlisle.

And both clubs were handed mass confrontation charges as a result of the same flashpoint which occurred seven minutes from full-time at Boundary Park.

All parties will discover their fate by the end of this week.