Rovers return?

FOOD FOR THOUGHT . . . Athletic boss Paul Dickov looks on as his side slip to defeat against Colchester United last night.

PAUL Dickov is seriously contemplating a return to first team action after seeing his Athletic side slip to a 1-0 defeat at Colchester last night — their 11th game without a win.

Ashley Vincent slotted home a 52nd-minute winner at the Weston Homes Community Stadium.

Despite a dramatic downturn in the team’s fortunes, which has seen the one-time play-off contenders plummet to the wrong end of the npower League One table, the Scot has so far resisted the temptation to play.

However, after hinting that his patience with a misfiring frontline had finally snapped, there is every chance the manager will shake the dust off his boots and take his place in the squad for Monday’s televised home clash with Tranmere Rovers.

It would be his first appearance since a 10-minute cameo against Bristol Rovers in September.

He said: “It is something we are considering. I said we wanted to give the boys a chance and we have given them a chance. So we might have to reconsider it.”

Dickov remains confident his young group of players have what it takes to avoid relegation.

“We have played some great stuff and we were winning games. We need to get back to that,” he added.

“I am sure we can and we showed at times on Saturday that we can.

“Maybe here we were a little bit jaded, but I am not going to make excuses as I still felt we had more than enough to win the game.

“I am annoyed and a little bit angry because we are much better than we showed, yet again.”

After such a high-octane display in the harsh 1-0 defeat at the hands of high-flying Brighton at the weekend, Dickov was frustrated to see a dip in performance last night.

He said: “I was disappointed with the goal we conceded.

“I have not seen it again. I have been told that maybe it was offside, but you still react afterwards and it was too easy for the boy to run through and score.

“We didn’t play anywhere near the levels we did against Brighton.

“I still thought we did enough to win the game and it is disappointing when the lads put the effort in and yet again we have been beaten.

“When we passed the ball, we got into their last third with ease. Possibly, we got sucked into playing the way they do.

“When you are up against two big centre-backs you need to manipulate the ball a bit better than we did.”

Athletic’s misery was compounded by an injury to defender Jean-Yves Mvoto, who has only just returned on loan from Sunderland following a three-month lay-off.

The Frenchman went over on his ankle in the second half and hobbled off, although it was not the same one he injured during his first stint at the club.

“He has twisted it and hopefully it is not too bad,” said Dickov.

“He may have a chance for Monday, but as always we will give it 48 hours.”