There’s just no defence, admits angry Dickov

PAUL Dickov shunned the excuses in branding Athletic’s defeat to neighbours Rochdale as well below-par.

A hat-trick by Michael Symes claimed the spoils for a relegation-threatened Dale side, whose goals were answered by a superb Shefki Kuqi volley and a neat Reuben Reid finish late on.

Dickov felt that despite his side’s inexperience – and some poor refereeing decisions – they should have coped more ably at Spotland.

“We have to defend better,” said Dickov, whose side have slipped to 17th in the npower League One table.

“Coming away from home and scoring two goals, you expect to get something out of the game.

“The defending for the three goals was really poor.

“We had a goal chalked off at the end for what I am being told is for offside, then a push, or offside and then a push. I can’t work that one out.

“But we shouldn’t look for excuses. If we had defended properly we wouldn’t have faced that situation.

“I am bitterly disappointed, but we have got to pick them up. There are a lot of young boys in there and we have to back them and go again at Hartlepool (tomorrow).





ROCHDALE boss John Coleman praised hat-trick hero Michael Symes for firing his team to victory.

Symes had been struggling to find his scoring boots, but suddenly burst into life with a match-winning display, and the on-loan Bournemouth hitman’s treble breathed new life into the club’s fight for League One survival.

“That was the Michael Symes that we know and wanted to bring to the club,” said Coleman.

“When he’s on his game there won’t be many better strikers about, certainly not at this level, because he’s got everything.”


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