Decisions baffle Dickov

GOALKEEPING heroics and a pair of less-than-outstanding decisions from referee Darren Deadman were to blame for Athletic failing to turn a draw into a first away win in almost three months, according to manager Paul Dickov.

Stalemate specialists outside of Boundary Park — the last six times the squad has hopped back onto a team bus, they have now done so with honours even — rejigged Athletic had the better of the clash with Chesterfield.

After npower League One’s bottom club had taken the lead through a terrific finish from livewire striker Jordan Bowery, Matt Smith rose to mark his first start in 28 games with a powerful close-range header from a Filipe Morais cross seconds before half-time.

That was how the game ended. Despite the lack of further scoring, though, the remainder of an entertaining clash at the B2net Stadium featured a host of chances at both ends.

Alex Cisak and home ’keeper Tommy Lee were both stretched, while Smith fell under a Neal Trotman challenge to add to the spot-kick claims of the returning Robbie Simpson in the opening period.

“Their goalkeeper pulled off four or five outstanding saves and we had a couple of really good penalty shouts as well,” said Dickov, who made four changes in adopting a startlingly strong substitutes’ bench featuring Jean-Yves Mvoto, Josh Parker, Luca Scapuzzi and Shefki Kuqi.

“They were more than good shouts — I thought they were nailed on.

“On the balance of chances and shots I am disappointed.

“But we left ourselves a bit bare at the back going gung-ho. It meant they had a couple of chances as well. But I felt ours were more clear-cut and that we played the better football.

“Some of the decisions made were absolutely baffling. Simpson was manhandled in the first half in the box.

“But I am not going to get myself into trouble.”

With Liverpool on the horizon on Friday night at Anfield, Dickov explained that he took a cautious approach with team selection in what was a second league game inside 72 hours.

“Jean has just come back from a hamstring injury, Josh has been out for a long time and Luca was feeling his hamstring the other day,” Dickov said.

“Two games in three days for some of them would have been a risk. It was good for the boys who haven’t been playing to come in and get some minutes under their belts."