Marksman Matt is man on a mission

MATT SMITH: out to impress.

Smith out to boost Latics’ attacking options
MATT Smith aimed to get back in the scoring groove by having a run-out for Athletic's reserves today.

The tall striker told the Chronicle "it is up to me to do well when I get playing time", after netting his second goal of the season in a 3-1 win at Leyton Orient.

Smith narrowly failed to add to that tally in another substitute appearance on Saturday, not quite making enough contact with Chris Taylor's low cross against Brentford as Athletic tried to fight back from being two goals down.

The final whistle signalled only the second time this season — and the first since the opening day — that Athletic have failed to find the net in 90 minutes.

And another player whose game time has been limited, Filipe Morais, partnered Smith in attack for Lee Duxbury's second string against Burnley at Chapel Road (2pm kick-off) in the Central League, West Division match.

An experienced Athletic line-up included four other players who have made first-team appearances at some stage this season.

Carl Winchester missed out on a place on the bench against Brentford and starts at right-back, on the opposite flank to Bradley Diallo, who was a 75th-minute substitute at the weekend.

Midfield duo Kirk Millar and David Mellor also started the Burnley game under Duxbury's charge, as did two other players — James Tarkowski and Ryan Burns — who enjoyed first-team run-outs in the 2010-11 campaign.