It’s time to get a move on – Dickov

PAUL DICKOV: 'We need to knuckle down and get some points on the board.'

ATHLETIC'S game at Stevenage tonight is OFF as a result of the recent big freeze — but Paul Dickov is hoping his side's form can heat up for the upcoming run of fixtures.

Athletic's manager, who now focuses on the trip to face Brentford on Saturday, admits he is disappointed at what has been, at best, a lukewarm npower League One campaign so far.

As the goals from star striker Shefki Kuqi have stopped flowing, so Athletic have become marooned in a divisional never-never land, seven points clear of the relegation zone and 13 away from the play-off positions.

With games in hand on every other side in the competition, Dickov wants the excuses to end — and for the climb up the ladder to start.

"I feel our performances, in the majority of games, have been better than our points total reflects," said the Athletic boss.

"It would be nice to go and not play so well and win a game.

"It is no good me coming out sticking up for the boys after every game about decisions that didn't go for us.

"I am sick of hearing myself saying it now and I am sure everyone else is.

"We just need to knuckle down now and get some points on the board.

"There are 20 games left and a lot of points to play for.

"People look at the table and see the position we are in.

"But if we get a couple of wins, with our games in hand — I know you have to win them first — it puts us right up the table again."

ATHLETIC'S home game against Leyton Orient, postponed at the weekend due to a frozen Boundary Park pitch, has been rearranged for Tuesday, March 27 (7.45pm kick-off).