Dickov keeps his feet on the floor

ANOTHER promising display with a clean sheet thrown into the bargain capped a pleasing pre-season programme for Athletic manager Paul Dickov.

Behind-closed-doors wins at Blackburn and Wigan have been accompanied by victories over Mossley, Blackpool and now Fleetwood — the latter result thanks to Zander Diamond’s 34th-minute header.

Once again, Dickov isn’t getting carried away with results that count for nothing.

While he will push his players for more in the week leading up to Saturday’s npower League One opener against Sheffield United, though, he admitted his side’s apparent solidity was a boon.

“It was beautiful weather, a beautiful pitch and a nice stadium to play in and it was a good work-out for us,” Dickov said after the test against the Blue Square Bet Premier side at the impressive Highbury Stadium.

“There are still things we can improve on, but it was a hot day. The boys worked hard, we had a good team shape and it was pleasing to get a clean sheet and win the game.

“Fleetwood are a good footballing team and though people might look at the fact they are in the Conference, they are a good side and a hard one to play on their home ground.

“We coped with them well. Our back five were excellent again and it was pleasing to get another clean sheet.

“In the first 25 minutes, we were a little bit sloppy. We weren’t as compact as we usually are but once we sorted that out, it was great.

“The front two worked ever so hard, backed up by the middle four and the defence also did its job.”

Diamond was one of the stand-out players for Athletic. The Scot continues to forge an unfussy and physically robust partnership at the back alongside Jean-Yves Mvoto and his header indicates that Athletic may be more potent this time around when attacking in dead-ball situations.