Looking up

ON-LOAN defender Nathan Clarke wants Athletic to start their assault on the top six with victory over MK Dons tonight.

Clarke eyes home lift-off
NATHAN Clarke is targeting tonight’s televised MK Dons clash as the perfect chance to correct errant home form.

Athletic have won only once at Boundary Park so far this season, picking up five points from a

possible 15 — a record which contrasts starkly with away form that has brought three wins in the last four games in all competitions.

Currently 13th in the table, a win for Paul Dickov’s side (7.45pm kick-off) would leapfrog the club above this Saturday's opponents Tranmere and into the top half of npower League One.

A victory for the Dons would take them from fourth to second spot in the table.

“MK Dons are a very good passing side and they are up there at the moment, which is where we want to be,” said Clarke, an impressive performer for Athletic since joining on loan from Huddersfield.

“It is a chance for us to gain ground on teams like this and really kick on.

“There have been a few indifferent performances and results for us and we want to put it right and get on a run, to see if we can be challenging in those play-off spots.

“It is hard to put a finger on the home form and it is frustrating more than anything. It is something we are looking to put right as soon as possible.

“It is so tight at the moment that one win can shoot us towards the top six, which is where we want to be.”

Long-throw exponent Clarke has come within inches of scoring with headers in both of his last two appearances, hitting a post at Exeter and crossbar against Scunthorpe.

The latter incident led to Shefki Kuqi’s winning goal and the 27-year-old is relishing the quality of deliveries issued into the box by the likes of Filipe Morais at present.

“I thought the one at Exeter was on its way in off the post, if anything,” he added.

“It is frustrating personally, but thankfully the other night we had Chris Taylor following the ball in.

“There have been some fantastic balls into the box and with the quality coming in, we have to get our heads on them and put them away — it is as simply as that, really.”

Jean-Yves Mvoto (ankle) is likely to return to the bench tonight for Athletic and Clarke knows he and Zander Diamond will both have to maintain good form to keep the big French defender out of the side.

“They always say it is a good problem for a manager to have and all three of us are comfortable in playing that role,” he said.

“With competition for places you always want to get on the front foot, hoping to be the first pick.”

Dickov is also boosted tonight by the likely return to the squad of injury of club captain Dean Furman (knee) and left-back Paul Black (groin), but Bradley Diallo (hamstring) is likely to miss out.

Athletic (probable): Cisak; Lee, Diamond, Clarke, Mellor; Morais, Wesolowski, Adeyemi, Taylor; Reid, Kuqi. Subs (from): Gerrard, Black, Tarkowski, Mvoto, Furman, Simpson, Smith, Millar.


ATHLETIC have landed a home draw against League Two club Crewe in the northern section quarter-finals of the Johnstone's Paint Trophy.
The game is likely to be played on Tuesday, November 8, with both date and kick-off time set for confirmation today. Ties will be played in the week beginning November 7.