Latics given a ticking-off

Photo: Max Flego

FLASHPOINT: Athletic’s Richie Jones (left) puts his hand around the throat of team-mate Chris Taylor at the end of last night’s game at MK Dons. Taylor skippered Athletic in Reuben Hazell’s absence, as the visitors earned a 0-0 draw.

Dickov reads riot act after first-half diappointment
MANAGER Paul Dickov was relieved to escape from last night’s tussle with MK Dons with a goalless draw.

Another top display from goalkeeper Ben Amos preserved a useful point, while at the other end of the field, it was Athletic’s fourth successive blank in front of goal – meaning it is now more than six-and-a-half hours since Dickov’s side found the net.

“I thought in the second half we could possibly have won it,” said Dickov, referring to strikes from Filipe Morais and Sam Mantom which both went close to arresting the unwanted run in front of goal.

“We rode our luck a bit in the first half. We gave them too much of the ball and showed them too much respect, which isn’t like us.

“We spoke about them before the game and we knew how they would play.

“Karl (Robinson) has got them playing some fantastic football, but we felt we could nullify that with the way we play.

“Every time they had the ball they seemed to have five yards to run into and that is not like us.

“We sat off them all over the pitch, especially in midfield. We expect our forwards to help out, as they have done all season, but our two centre-forwards in the first half just wanted to play up against their centre-halves and football doesn’t work like that.

“We spoke at half-time and sorted it out. But it shouldn’t take us until half-time to do that as they know what to expect from the first minute.

“In the second half, we were excellent and nullified them completely.

“Going forward we were a threat all the time.

“Their goalkeeper (Daniel Martin) pulled off an unbelievable save off Filipe and Sam Mantom was centimetres away.”

Dean Furman will miss Athletic’s next two games after picking up an added-time yellow card for a foul on Luke Chadwick.

That pushes the spotlight firmly back onto whether again-absent Dale Stephens will be back fit in time to face Peterborough on Saturday following a bout of illness.

“Hopefully he will be alright,” said Dickov of Stephens. “He did a bit of work on Monday and a good bit yesterday, so we are very hopeful he will be alright for the Peterborough game.”

Dickov also explained the absence of captain Reuben Hazell – missing with a stiff back – and the dropping of striker Oumare Tounkara to the bench in favour of Reid.

“The big man (Tounkara) has done a lot for us, possibly a bit too much for somebody of his age,” the Athletic boss said.

“We felt that in the last couple of games it has taken its toll on him a little bit. He will benefit from it and in the 15 minutes he got on he looked quite sharp.”

Athletic stay eighth in the division, three points behind MK Dons, who occupy the last play-off place.