Boss lauds striker’s work ethic

Oldham manager Paul Dickov: really quite happy at the result.

SHEFKI KUQI was hailed as “magnificent” by his manager as the striker’s stellar efforts helped Athletic to a second away win in five days.

The burly striker scored to equalise George Porter’s opener for Leyton Orient at Brisbane Road and also created the other two second-half goals for the visitors — the second, with an exquisite reverse pass into the path of substitute Matt Smith.

As well as saluting the 34-year-old former Blackburn man’s effectiveness in attacking positions to tilt the contest Athletic’s way, Dickov also highlighted the work ethic of a player who now has three goals in his first four games for the club.

“He was magnificent,” said Dickov. “I don’t know if he meant the backheel (to Smith) or not, as I saw some of his touches before that in front of me!

“He scored one and set up two and led the line well.

“But in the 93rd minute, with us 3-1 up, he chased their full-back right down the touchline.

“What an example for his team-mates and everybody watching. That is why we brought him in.

“He is a character and he has a massive desire to win, which rubs off on to everybody else.”

A poor opening for the visitors against a side bottom of npower League One saw Orient take the lead through a strike from right-winger Porter, starting his first game in professional football.

But creating opportunities while attacking was never a problem, with Kuqi and Robbie Simpson spurning huge chances to equalise with close-range headers in the first half.

Home boss Russell Slade will feel his own side could have scored more than once, missing when placed well themselves.

Athletic, though, were the better and more clinical of the sides and Reuben Reid’s header and Smith’s low finish made it four games unbeaten.

“That is now two fantastic away wins in the space of five days,” added Dickov.

“Performance-wise, it was our best of the season.

“Even at 1-0 down at half-time I felt we were on top and the goal we conceded came from our mistake. We never ask our defenders to play straight balls into midfielders.

“I feel the boys are learning together and getting better together. Earlier in the season I said about us conceding goals and letting heads go down.

“Here we got a reaction straight away. Possibly, I felt we could have gone in at half-time with a lead.

“And then in the second half we were magnificent.

“From back to front all the way through the team there is a real belief about them.

“We said at half-time, have the belief. If they score one, let’s score two. If they get two, score three.

“The belief within the squad has made me really proud of them.

“It is possibly my best victory as a manager.”

As well as taking the club up to 11th spot in League One, the win also serves to put behind Dickov heavy early-season defeats on similarly long-haul visits to Yeovil and Colchester.

“The last thing I said to them before they went out was, the last two away trips on a Saturday I have gone home feeling physically sick,” he said.

“I am feeling better now.”