Stay focused!

STAYING alert for the full duration of a game is the target for James Wesolowski and Athletic.

Ahead of tomorrow’s test at bottom-of-the-table Leyton Orient, the former Leicester and Peterborough

midfielder feels that the midweek 1-0 victory at Walsall was a triumph for concentration as much as good football.

Having found the net in every fixture this season bar the opener against Sheffield United, sharp minds and a third clean sheet of the campaign should bring about another three-point haul from Brisbane Road.

“We have been sloppy from kick-offs and at the start of second halves this season,” said 24-year-old midfielder Wesolowski, an ever-present since arriving at Boundary Park five weeks ago.

“It isn’t a physical thing, it is more mental. We all have to take a look at ourselves and play from the first whistle right to the end of injury time.

“We did that against Walsall and because of that, got the result.

“At the moment we take it game by game and that is the best way at this stage of the season.

“You learn from mistakes early on so that they don't cause problems at the business end.”

A player whose career has thus far been disrupted badly by injuries, Sydney-born Wesolowski believes that both on a personal level and as a club, things are looking up as Athletic bid to make it four games unbeaten at Orient.

“I am feeling better with every game and think I am pretty much near to full fitness now,” he added.

“They are a great set of lads here and we have a good manager and set-up.

“I just want to try to make a push for those play-off spots. That is the goal for us this season.”

Amid such optimism, though, boss Paul Dickov has sounded a word of caution on his side's start to the campaign.

“Away defeats at Yeovil and Colchester really grate on me,” said the Athletic manager.

“We did ourselves no favours. They were both long trips for the loyal fans and the least we should do is go out and give it everything we have got.

“Performance-wise, we didn’t do that and it was too easy for us to be beaten.

“In the two draws we have had recently (against Huddersfield and Stevenage) I feel we could have got something better.

“The players will say I am never happy, win, lose or draw, but I believe we are better than we have seen this season and that there is more to come from us.”