Latics wary of banana skin

NOT MY DAY: Neal Trotman (right), sent off during the 2-0 defeat to Athletic at Boundary Park earlier this season, finds himself in early trouble in his efforts to keeps tabs on Chris Taylor.

THE RED pens will have been out in force in the town of Chesterfield at the start of the season.

With no less than EIGHT employees of the newly-promoted Spireites formerly having served Athletic, tomorrow's fixture was one to scribble a large ring around on the kitchen calendar.

Manager John Sheridan, his assistant Tommy Wright and goalkeeper Mark Crossley form the non-playing contingent of former Athletic men, while Greg Fleming, Neal Trotman, Mark Allott, Danny Whitaker and Leon Clarke are all familiar names in the corridors and dressing rooms of Boundary Park.

Handshakes aplenty are expected before and after the game.

In between? Athletic boss Paul Dickov expects not an inch will be given by the struggling visitors from North Derbyshire.

"It is going be a tough game and there will be a few determined to come here and prove a point," said Dickov.

"With the likes of Leon Clarke and Jordan Bowery up front and Craig Westcarr and Alex Mendy out wide, they will always be a threat coming forward.

"So we know that defensively, we have got to be bang on it.

"As with other clubs lately, they will also want to come here and keep a clean sheet, so we may have to be patient."

One player who will be particularly keen to put in a top-notch performance is Trotman, who is in the middle of a loan spell from Rochdale.

Loaned by Athletic from Preston for a second spell last season, he fell out of favour after a promising start.

And it has been a similar story at Rochdale, the club he moved to in the summer recess.

The 24-year-old centre-back had the proverbial nightmare for Dale on his last appearance in these parts in August, conceding a penalty and getting himself sent off for two yellow cards.

"Neal is a great kid and I have a lot of time for him," said Dickov of a player who departed Athletic for Preston three years ago in a deal worth £500,000.

"Whatever has happened at Rochdale, it has not quite worked out for him.

“He is in familiar surroundings with John (Sheridan) and his backroom staff and players he knows, and that can sometimes bring out the best in you."

Wholesale changes to the Athletic line-up are highly unlikely tomorrow after the club's back-to-back successes in cup competitons.

The first-team door is never shut completely, though, says boss Paul Dickov, who praised the attitude of those who at the moment can't break through.

He said: "I have got to stress to the players that if I want to change it, I can. And if they are left out of the team, I want to see a reaction.

"To be fair I have had that from Filipe Morais, from Paul Black and from Nathan Clarke in training this week. What I have here at the club, no matter how old or experienced they are, is a group of professionals who understand that I have a difficult decision to make.

"It is a decision that has to benefit the football club and if I have to be ruthless with one or two, then I will be. It is nothing personal. I just want the best for the club. I have spoken to the boys as a group and they understand that. If they don't play one week, they know they still have a chance to come in the next."