A different ball game

NEW CHALLENGE: Athletic defender Zander Diamond is enjoying the “freshness” of playing in League One.

ZANDER Diamond is full of enthusiasm for his new adventure south of the border.

The no-nonsense centre-back got stuck into his role as Athletic’s main enforcer with relish against Sheffield United, in particular reacquainting the day’s anti-hero — former Boundary Park and Motherwell favourite Chris Porter — with one particularly robust challenge that passes muster in the tough-as-teak Scottish Premier League.

At the other end of the field, Diamond wasn’t quite so brutally effective. With Athletic two goals down, the former Aberdeen and Scotland under-21 player spurned a good chance to pull a goal back by directing a header over the top.

As he sets foot back on to Boundary Park tonight, though, his mind will be once again firmly on shutting the door on others rather than prising it open.

“It was harder to miss,” said Diamond, reflecting on the wasted scoring opportunity. “It was just one of those things — it came to me quickly and I just tried to guide it in.

“On another day it goes in, it is 2-1 and we are at them in the last 15 minutes to try to get the equaliser.

“As it was, we were always chasing the game in the second half and it was disappointing not to get on the scoresheet.”

The not-so-soft introduction to npower League One at least represented a new experience for the Alexandria-born player, as does the Carling Cup test at home against Carlisle United tonight (7.45pm kick-off).

After more than a double-century of games for Aberdeen, Diamond is happy to be facing different challenges on the pitch.

“The different stadiums, teams and styles of play are the reason I came down here,” he added.

“I am looking forward to it after spending nine years in Scotland playing against the same teams and same personnel year-in, year-out.

“Outside Celtic and Rangers, all teams can beat each other and that includes First Division teams taking on SPL opposition.

“I don’t think many League One teams would look out of place, outside the old firm, in Scotland.

“There is more of the physical element up there whereas, in League One you seem to want to get the ball down and play football more.

“It is a different ball game down here and everything is new. It is that freshness that I craved.”

A similarly-refreshing cup run is one thing Athletic’s board truly need this season.

Not since the 2008-09 season and a win on penalties over Rochdale in the first round of the League Cup at Spotland have Athletic progressed past the first round of ANY knock-out competition.

Victory over Carlisle would see Athletic make it into a second-round draw featuring all 12 Premier League sides not involved in European competition.