One goal is all it takes

DALE STEPHENS: Recovered from illness.

Floodgates will open when drought is ended, says Dickov

ATHLETIC need a solitary goal to open the floodgates, manager Paul Dickov predicts.

Dale Stephens, due back tomorrow following a four-match illness absence and earmarked to take over from the suspended Dean Furman in midfield, was the team's last scorer in his final appearance to date — against Dagenham and Redbridge, 400 minutes of football ago.

Plenty of presentable opportunities in front of goal have come and gone since in a run which has seen Athletic pick up only three points from five matches.

That is not the form of bona fide play-off contenders. But Dickov is still backing his side to make the top six.

"I believe in every single one of them as individuals and when they go out there as an 11 on the football pitch," said Dickov, whose team are up against Peterborough United at Boundary Park tomorrow.

"When we are at our best we are on the front foot and don't give teams space to play.

"I am really looking forward to the game.

"I saw a reaction from the boys in the second half at MK Dons and they are champing at the bit to get back on track and get a result.

"I am confident it will come if we keep creating chances and keep doing the right things as we did in the second half at Milton Keynes.

"It just takes one to go in and I am sure we will get a barrel load."

Buoyed by that improved effort at Stadium:mk which earned a 0-0 draw, Athletic will hope for better fortunes than befell them in the corresponding fixture earlier this season.

Athletic took a two-goal lead in a madcap game at London Road through Ritchie Jones and Chris Taylor, before being overwhelmed by a potent home attack which responded with five goals without reply.

Dickov reckons new manager Darren Ferguson has quelled some of Peterborough's more reckless tendencies, while at the same time plotting to strengthen their porous defence.

"I have known Darren for a long time and he is a clever guy," added Dickov. "He will know what was wrong and is putting it right at the moment.

"They are a good team on a good run and are a threat going forward.

"Down there, the game could have finished seven-all with all the chances that were created.

"A lot of their opportunities came through our individual errors, so for me it is pretty simple what we need to do.

"Keep our discipline, like we did in the second half the other night, and it will be a good football match."

Dickov said Stephens' body strength is getting back to where it should be following his three-week absence from the action.

And he also paid tribute to the sparkling form of goalkeeper Ben Amos, who is on loan from Manchester United.

"Ben is a magnificent goalkeeper, he really is," he said.

"With Joe Lewis of Peterborough out there tomorrow, you will see probably the two best goalkeepers in the division on the same pitch.”