Even I didn’t enjoy it, says Dickov

IT DIDN’T look any prettier from the dug-out.

Athletic’s bore draw with Preston was typical end-of-season fare, with the main talking point being that it at least guaranteed the club’s status for next season.

Paul Dickov admitted there was a lack of cohesive football from both teams.

“I love my job but I didn’t enjoy watching that game,” admitted Dickov, whose side have now dropped to 18th in the npower League One table, with matches against Bury and Carlisle still to come.

“I want my players to try to express themselves and at least try to play football and I don’t think they did that often enough.

“It was a scrappy, horrible game with not a lot of quality in it. The players looked nervy and edgy and you can count on one hand the amount of times we got the ball down and passed it.”

Dickov shouldered some of the blame for his team’s tentative performance, citing his instructions in the build-up not to take anything for granted.

With safety now assured, he is likely to give run-outs to youngsters like Carl Winchester and Connor Hughes in the final two games of the season.




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