Hazell predicts a spicy encounter

NO NEED TO PANIC... Reuben Hazell (right) expects Athletic to recover from their mini slump — starting tomorrow.

Posh will go for it — but we can match them, says skipper

ATHLETIC captain Reuben Hazell has been forced to watch from afar recently — the worst punishment for any self-respecting professional footballer.

After picking up his 10th caution of the season against Huddersfield, the 31-year-old was left to sit on the sidelines while serving a two-match ban and has also missed two further games away at Bristol Rovers and MK Dons with a back strain.

Andy Todd has proven himself an able replacement and the ex-Bolton man could keep his place against Peterborough United tomorrow with Hazell still struggling for full fitness.

Despite his lay-off, Hazell is not downbeat. And if not involved on the pitch against Posh, he reckons he will at least be able to take in an entertaining clash.

"They (Peterborough) are a very good side but if you look at their record, they leak a lot of goals too," said Hazell, of the team now managed by Darren Ferguson and who have seen a total of 127 goals fly in during their 31 games in npower League One this season.

"It is a good opportunity for us to get back to scoring ways.

"I always fancy us at home. I think it promises to be a very entertaining game, as we will be going for it and I know they will be, too.

"It is a game that has two attack-minded managers coming up against each other and one that I think we will win by the odd goal."

Athletic have not won in their last five and have failed to score in more than six-and-a-half hours of football.

But Hazell dismisses fears that the play-off places are steadily creeping out of the reach of Paul Dickov's men.

"We have fallen off the wagon a bit lately but it is not a crisis," he said.

"There are still plenty of matches left in which we can pick up the points that will enable us to get to where we want to be."