Latics hit reverse gear

Frustrated Paul Dickov

Brentford 2, Athletic 0

IF ATHLETIC thought they had turned the corner with a much-improved display at Notts County, this was very much back to square one.

Unable to concentrate fully defensively and with a worrying lack of spark and invention going forward, it is difficult to draw on too much inspiration from a comprehensive defeat.

Had it not been for stand-in goalkeeper Dean Bouzanis, it would have arrived wrapped up in a far more wince-inducing scoreline.

And with Chris Taylor carried off in the second half with suspected ankle ligament damage, the impact of this loss could be felt over the course of the season’s remaining six games.

If the injury is as bad as is feared, the winger with ambitions to play in the Championship, may well have made his last appearance in an Athletic shirt.

The first goal was pure black comedy.

Not that manager Paul Dickov, his coaching staff, chairman Simon Corney or any of the committed 205 Athletic fans who made the trip to Griffin Park were rolling in the aisles about witnessing it.

From a regulation long throw by Clayton Donaldson, Marcus Bean showed the desire his marker failed to provide by surging to the near post and volleying smartly beyond Bouzanis.

With exactly 60 seconds elapsed on the clock, the visitors were already playing catch-up.

Athletic struggled to get a foothold in the game and it was not until the second half started that they managed to do so.

With taylor already departed Tounkara on a neat pass from sidekick Simpson to shoot at goal from the penalty spot.

Brentford goalkeeper Richard Lee was well-positioned and able to smother Athletic’s best attempt of the contest.

The second goal killed the game off.

Substitute Niall McGinn was played in over the top of the visiting defence by Toumani Diagouraga’s header following a partially cleared corner and he finished low and clinically across Bouzanis.

The result was never in doubt thereafter.

It leaves Athletic licking their wounds after a seventh loss in nine games, and with their anti-relegation points total not yet achieved.
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