Cause for applause

Reuben Hazell: points safety

THE PRESSURE is off Athletic, according to captain Reuben Hazell.

The 50-point target was hit thanks to a two-goal win at Notts County, releasing plenty of pent-up frustration that had built up over a period of 12 matches without a win.

With safety in npower League One all but assured, captain Hazell — who has now kept consecutive clean sheets — hopes that Paul Dickov's side can recapture the sort of form which made them very real play-off contenders before that horrible run.

"It is a relief to get to 50 points, which is usually a safety marker," said the 31-year-old, back starting alongside the formidable Jean-Yves Mvoto in the last three games following his loan return to the club from Sunderland.

"It isn't guaranteed, but more often than not it is enough to stay up.

"Probably six weeks ago, we would have been looking to push on and try to get into the play-offs.

"But circumstances changed and we can't do anything about that now.

"We went on a bad run and it was nice to stop the rot with the goalless draw against Tranmere. And to back that up with a win at Notts County was excellent.

"Hopefully, we can kick on for the next six games and try to pick up points without playing under any pressure whatsoever."

Hazell reckons that the style of play Athletic have squared up to in recent contests, with plenty of direct football employed, could be down to a feeling among rival managers that Dickov's men are vulnerable to quick deliveries in behind the defence.

"With Febian Brandy and Lee Hughes playing on our shoulders, Notts County tried to turn us," Hazell added.

"They were basically hoping for a lapse in concentration and if teams have watched us lately, we have conceded goals from long, straight balls forward.

"Perhaps teams have thought that someone in the back four will fall asleep to give them a chance.

"But against Notts County we got what we deserved, which was a second clean sheet in a row.

"It is commendable, because when you are on a bad run stopping conceding goals is so important."

Prior to the Meadow Lane visit, Athletic had scored only twice in their last 11 games and the inability to find the net was a puzzle for Hazell.

"We have shown all season that we have players with flair in the side, which is why it is such a surprise that we have lacked goals lately," he said.

"If you look at the two goals at Notts County it was a great bit of magic by Chris Taylor and a similar bit of magic by Reuben Reid that got us them.

"It is the sort of thing they show in training on a daily basis — which makes it such a shame that in the last 12 winless games, we couldn't click in an attacking sense."