27 hours later...

DUGOUT DUEL . . . Athletic boss Paul Dickov and his Rochdale counterpart John Coleman share their thoughts after James Tarkowski (right) is dismissed.

It was a good goal but when you get beaten, you forget about it — Kuqi

SHEFKI Kuqi’s thunder was stolen as Athletic slipped to defeat in the local derby.

The striker ended his 27-hour barren spell in spectacular fashion at Rochdale, brilliantly volleying an equaliser from long-range to register his first goal from open play for the club since a header against Bradford in the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy in early December.

But it was frailties at the other end of the field which did for Athletic in the 3-2 defeat to a side previously at the bottom of npower League One.

James Tarkowski’s nightmare afternoon was ended with a red card.

And with Zander Diamond ruled out for six weeks with a thigh injury, Paul Dickov is without a recognised centre-back partnership for tomorrow night’s game at Hartlepool.

Despite the fact that the squad has been ravaged by injuries, Kuqi warned that his severely inexperienced team must quickly learn the lessons in order that a barren four-game run of defeats in not extended further.

“It was a good goal but when you get beaten, you forget about it very quickly,” said the 35-year-old striker, now on 16 goals for the season.”

Harry Bunn made his debut for Athletic at Spotland after completing his loan move from Manchester City on Friday afternoon. The son of club legend Frank will stay at Boundary Park for the rest of the season.



FILIPE Morais is back home recuperating following the car accident which put him in hospital on Saturday morning.

The winger was left severely concussed and with cuts and bruises following a three-vehicle incident on Sheepfoot Lane, as he travelled to Boundary Park ahead of the derby game at Spotland.




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