Front line challenge

PLENTY TO SMILE ABOUT: Jose Baxter (left) celebrates his debut goal with Cliff Byrne.

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Smith determined to push for a place
MATT Smith admitted he was disappointed to find himself out of the starting line-up against Notts County — but concedes that Athletic’s new-found wealth of attacking options is good for the team.

Nottingham Forest striker Matt Derbyshire signed on a month’s loan and was installed in Smith’s place as strike partner to Robbie Simpson — despite the tall forward having netted on his previous appearance at Chesterfield.

Derbyshire proved his worth with a neat finish — as did substitute attacker Jose Baxter.

Smith managed to get on the pitch for the final 25 minutes and went close when he nodded over the top of 10-man Notts County’s goalkeeper Bartosz Bialkowski’s goal as Athletic tried to squeeze out a win at Boundary Park.

“You have to appreciate at times that football isn’t fair, but that’s the way it goes,” said Smith (23), now in his second season at the club.

Smith played a pivotal role in the last-gasp drama on Saturday when Baxter rose superbly to head home Reece Wabara’s cross for what appeared to be a match-winner in the sixth minute of added time.

A raised flag put paid to the joy of the ex-Everton man, who has signed a four-month deal with Athletic in what could, on this evidence, be a major coup for the club.

“I think the assistant referee probably flagged for me being offside,” Smith admitted. “Though I don't know how I was interfering with play, given that Jose went in ahead of me.

“He actually told me he had flagged for Jose being offside. But given that Jose came running in from deep, I really don’t know where he got the decision from.”

With Wabara also impressive after signing on loan for a month from Manchester City, Athletic will enter tomorrow’s home game against Scunthorpe in confident mood.

Meanwhile, Dickov has explained that his swoop for Wabara was caused by a change in role for Cliff Byrne. 



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