Defender seeking instant response

Photo: Alan Howarth

TOE TO TOE . . . Kieran Lee attempts to win the ball against Huddersfield.

Lee confident Latics will bounce back quickly

EVER-reliable Kieran Lee is backing Athletic to quickly overcome their derby day disappointment.

The 23-year-old played at left-back for the second game running at Huddersfield Town, as his side slipped to a 1-0 defeat.

Though he felt the final score was a harsh judgement, Lee admits this is no time to brood on what might have been, with tomorrow’s first leg of the Northern Area Johnstone’s Paint Trophy final against Chesterfield on the horizon.

“I think we held our own for the whole game and while we didn’t work their ’keeper enough, they didn’t have many chances either,” said Lee, who did his bit to cut out the supply lines for Huddersfield's dangerous 27-goal striker Jordan Rhodes.

“It was one of those games that was a real battle.

“There were a lot of tackles going in and it wasn’t the greatest of spectacles.

“We didn’t deserve to lose and I think a draw would have been a fair result, but it doesn’t always work out like that.

“We have to take it on the chin and move on.”

Jimmy Juan scored Chesterfield’s equaliser in a 1-1 draw at Leyton Orient on Saturday.

While gaining a point, the result extends the winless run for John Sheridan’s side to 17 matches.

Athletic gained a draw from the last meeting between the sides at the B2net Stadium and Lee knows the importance of a positive result tomorrow, with a Wembley appearance the prize for the victors across the two matches.

“It is another big game being a Northern final,” Lee added. “We will look to play well, get some goals and win the game over there.

“There have been a lot of big games recently and this is another that we go into believing we can win.

“It was a tough game over there last time. As a second fixture in three days there were a few heavy legs.

“All the lads know how important these Chesterfield games are and everyone desperately wants to get to Wembley."



ATHLETIC manager Paul Dickov is a studio guest on the BBC show “Late Kick Off” tonight, with Blackpool goalkeeper Matt Gilks, who played for Heyside Juniors, also featuring.
The programme is on BBC1 at 11.05pm.