The week that could define the season

Latics’ assistant manager writes every week for Chron Sport
WE are about to embark on the biggest two matches of our season so far, with Saturday’s trip to Southend in the FA Cup second round followed by the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy Northern Area semi-final at home to Bradford on Tuesday. Depending on the outcome, they could go down in Athletic history.

Victory on Saturday would put us in the third-round draw with the Barclays Premier League big-boys, while a win against the Bantams three days later would take us closer to Wembley.

As I have touched upon before, the financial implications of a cup run — or even better, two cup runs — are absolutely huge for a club like this. The right result at Southend guarantees us £27,000 so it is essential that we do the business on the pitch.

I have played at Roots Hall and it is an enclosed space, which makes life difficult for visiting teams.

Some of our lads have probably experienced it, too, but they have all been made fully aware of just how important this tie is and how tough Southend are likely to be. They are playing very well, so we know they will throw everything at us.

Manager Paul Sturrock has done a good job. He has a proven track record at that level — and I don’t mean that disrespectfully. It did not work out for him at the likes of Sheffield Wednesday, but he is doing well now.

We go into the tie on the back of a 0-0 draw at Bournemouth in the league. Both sides cancelled each other out, though I felt we created the better chances. Big Jean-Yves Mvoto should have done better with a free header, but the game will be remembered for the goal that never was — Robbie Simpson’s first-half shot clearly crossed the goal-line before the Cherries cleared the ball.

But referee Andy D’Urso did not award it and our skipper Dean Furman was told the linesman’s view was obstructed, so he could not guess from his position.

Every time something like this happens it reopens the debate about goal-line technology in football and I am all for it.

Most managers would like to see it introduced. That is certainly the feeling in football now.

At least then, even if the decision goes against you, there can be no arguments because it takes away the doubt. But on the positive side, we came away from Dean Court with a clean sheet, having defended well.