Latics can mix it with leaders
Reporter: Matthew Chambers
Date published: 16 December 2011
ATHLETIC have never come away from Charlton with three points — but manager Paul Dickov reckons now is as good a time as any to break that duck.
Chris Powell's side are riding imperiously high, five points clear at the top of npower League One after making a strong start to the campaign that has barely lost any momentum.
Last term, a Dean Furman goal at the Valley secured a 1-1 draw in a game Athletic could have won had they taken advantage of their goalscoring chances. A wholesale change in personnel has since taken place under Charlton manager Chris Powell, an old team-mate of Dickov's at Leicester.
While admitting to the qualities of tomorrow's opponents, unbeaten in taking on a visiting Athletic side on 23 occasions, Dickov also points to factors favouring his men.
"We are looking hard to beat, not conceding a lot, but also looking a big threat going forward," said Dickov, on a high after landing a third-round FA Cup tie with Liverpool thanks to the midweek victory over Southend in a second-round replay.
"It is a big pitch, which will suit us, and Charlton try to play football which will suit us as well. We will roll our sleeves up and get stuck in when needed. I am looking forward to it, as I think it will be a really good game. It is a really good club and one that wants to get back up to the Championship and Premier League and rightly so. We go down there to give it a right good go and enjoy it."
Dale Stephens won't play for Charlton and Cedric Evina is unlikely to turn out either. Stephens is recovering from ankle surgery, and the high quality of Powell's large squad is keeping out former Latics player Evina.
Added Dickov: "The thing Chris has done that impresses me the most is putting together a squad of players who feel they should be playing week-in, week-out at this level and possibly in the Championship,.
"The hardest thing is to keep people who are not playing happy. He brought in 18 in the summer — but can only play 11 of them at once. It definitely helps that they are winning games."
