Let’s make some noise

PAUL DICKOV: expecting a good atmosphere at Boundary Park tonight.

Dickov backing fans to inspire Latics
ATHLETIC manager Paul Dickov is backing home fans to drown out the travelling support at Boundary Park tonight, helping to spur the team on to the regional final of the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy.

Having already seen off Scunthorpe and Crewe, Athletic now take on npower League Two strugglers Bradford City in a bid to face either Preston or Chesterfield for a place at Wembley in March.

The Bantams are set to be backed by up to 2,000 supporters flocking over the Pennines, with Dickov hoping for far in excess of that number in the home sections.

“It will be a good atmosphere tonight,” Dickov said. “I am desperate for our fans to come here and see us win a semi-final and I am sure that those that are here will back us.

“We want to get a few more through the gate to support the boys. And then, it is up to the boys to put in a performance.”

Dickov doesn’t want Athletic to focus yet on the attractive carrot of an FA Cup third-round trip to Liverpool, the rights for which will be contested by Southend at Boundary Park a week today.

“I know it will sound a little boring,” he admitted. “But while I can’t not think about the Liverpool game — because it is there — I want to nip it in the bud a little bit.

“We have got a big game against Bradford and then another very tough replay against Southend before we can get there.

“I don’t want to burst anyone’s bubble, but we have a lot of massive fixtures coming up.

“And the biggest for me at the moment is Bradford. It is a semi-final and there are lots of reasons why we want to win, not least the goal of getting to Wembley.”

Bradford, who also remain in FA Cup contention with a journey to Watford to look forward to, have been forced into midfield changes tonight (see Page 34), but Dickov is still expecting a tricky battle against an outfit who have reached this stage the hard way by defeating both Sheffield Wednesday and United, as well as Huddersfield Town.

Dean Furman’s suspension will most likely see Tom Adeyemi tucked into the middle of the park tonight, with Filipe Morais taking over wide on the right.

Nathan Clarke is set to start in place of Zander Diamond (knee), with Chris Taylor (hamstring) still absent.

“In the summer we knew the squad would be smaller and we wanted to get players in who can play in different positions,” Dickov said.

“We have two or three out, but we feel we have two or three who can come in without the injuries really hurting us.”



ATHLETIC are offering fans the chance to watch next week’s FA Cup second-round replay with Southend for as little as £1.

Season-ticket holders will pay £2 for the Boundary Park game (Tuesday, December 13, 7.45pm), while concession season-ticket holders will pay half that. Tickets must be bought before 5pm on December 12 to qualify.

Adults without season tickets will pay £10 (£5 for over-65s and juniors aged 13 to 16 years; £2 for under-12s).