Back in the old routine

Paul Gerrard and Alex Cisak.

PAUL Gerrard will shake off stiffness and get back between the posts for Athletic tomorrow.

The veteran goalkeeper — who last took to the field in the professional ranks 25 months ago, for Stockport in a Johnstone’s Paint Trophy tie — made his mark by saving an Andy Bishop penalty after coming on in the aftermath of Alex Cisak’s red card early in the game against Bury.

Athletic went on to lose Saturday’s contest and will be keener than ever to bounce back against Crewe at Boundary Park, particularly given the carrot of a Johnstone’s Paint Trophy Northern section semi-final place for the winner.

Cisak’s one-game ban means 38-year-old Gerrard will make the rarest of starts in that game.

His longer-term aim, though, is to help Cisak learn from the error which saw him concede the 10th-minute penalty.

“We talk about Alex’s starting position and that is what he needs to work on,” said Gerrard, who became a permanent member of manager Paul Dickov’s coaching staff in the summer after previously splitting his time between Athletic and Shrewsbury.

“It has cost him. But everyone makes mistakes and he will learn from it.

“He is a goalkeeper with a great attitude and a solid temperament and I am 100-per-cent confident he can play at a higher level.

“When I originally came here as a coach, Paul asked me to go on the bench as a favour.

“It saves on a wage with our tight budget and I was happy to do that.

“You do miss playing, but at the same time Alex is the future and he has a great future ahead of him. I am just trying to pass on my experience and knowledge to him.

“He has a lot of potential.”

Former Premier League stalwart Gerrard said that the work he puts in studying the opposition paid off when suddenly forced into the action.

“Looking at the situation I don’t know why, but I never even thought it would be a red card.

“I was then looking for my shinpads and just thought ‘let’s go’.

“I have saved a few penalties. I felt confident.

“He tried to give me the eyes but I picked my side and went that way.

“We get a scouting report, I do my own homework and it paid off.”

Dickov, who admitted he felt for debutant Luca Scapuzzi who was sacrificed so that Gerrard could emerge from the dug-out, praised his colleague.

He said: “Paul talked to the back four, came for crosses, then there was the one-on-one save at the end.”

James Wesolowski is likely to miss out again tomorrow (7pm kick-off) with a knee injury, though he should be back in contention for the weekend’s FA Cup first-round tie at home to Burton Albion.