Rough justice, says Dickov

Paul Dickov: disappointing result

ATHLETIC manager Paul Dickov felt his side were deserving of more, after a late Alan Lee goal won a tight clash for Huddersfield.

The tall substitute wriggled past Zander Diamond to fire home low underneath Alex Cisak in the 86th minute, registering the game’s only goal.

It meant that an Athletic performance characterised by stoic defending counted for nought.

“I am bitterly disappointed,” said Dickov (pictured), who made one change to the line-up which lost 5-1 at Liverpool, Josh Parker coming into the side for the ineligible on-loan Terriers striker Robbie Simpson.

“We were solid all game and if anything, we were the better team in the second half.

“I can’t fault the boys – the effort, the application and everything we asked of them they produced.

“They stood up against a very good team. We didn’t get a lot of things going our way and we performed well.

“The only criticism I would have is that in good positions, our final ball let us down a few times. We didn’t work the goalkeeper in some of the good positions we had.

“But we pick the boys up. If we perform like that between now and the end of the season, we will do alright.”

Simpson’s absence was felt as the visitors failed to muster a shot on target at Ian Bennett’s goal. While not a regular threat in an attacking sense, defensively Athletic kept red-hot striker Jordan Rhodes and company quiet.

Dickov felt the decisive goal from Lee owed something to good fortune.

“You have to respect Jordan Rhodes and also Huddersfield as a team, but I wanted us to come and play our game,” he added.

“In the first half, I know we got a bit of stick from the crowd but there was only one team that really got the ball down to play and that was us.

“I don’t think we got much help. It is quite a partisan crowd here when they get themselves going.

“I am bitterly disappointed. Sometimes you get accused of sticking up for your team when they haven’t played well.

“But anybody who was here could have seen we deserved something out of the game.

“We work a lot on defending crosses and Zander (Diamond) did everything right.

“It took a ricochet, Alan Lee landed on top of him and the ball landed at his feet.

“Nine times out of 10, the ball goes out for a throw-in or a corner there.

“When you are up at the top of the table, sometimes you get that bit of luck.

“I am disappointed for the players and for the fantastic fans who came again.

“We really deserved something out of the game and that is not kidology by me.

“I feel for the boys.”