Man mountain rising to challenge

JEAN-IVES MVOTO: big at the back

"HE'S magic, you know; you'll never get past Mvoto."

So goes the new chant celebrating Athletic defender Jean-Yves, who showed the best form of his sporadic season in helping to keep clean sheets against Hartlepool and Bournemouth.

The message from the coaching staff to the defender has been the same since he arrived last season: don't elaborate.

The stripped-down philosophy doesn’t leave room for tricks and there were none in a display at Victoria Park a week ago — but Mvoto did strain to misdirect referee Robert Madley's perception as much as he could.

Cherries then-manager Lee Bradbury felt his team were denied a "stonewall penalty" and Athletic boss Paul Dickov didn't veer too far from that view.

Mvoto just smiles when asked if a penalty should have been given.

In a very young side, the 23-year-old has been asked to take on more responsibility.


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