In at the deep end

EMBARRASSED and under fire, Paul Dickov is under no illusions as to how big tomorrow night’s trip to rock-bottom Hartlepool is.

“It is a massive game,” said Athletic’s manager (pictured), following a dispiriting second-half collapse at Bournemouth which sank the club into npower League One’s relegation places for the first time since August.

“It will be tough for us but we need to go there and win. We need to start picking up results soon.”

At Victoria Park, Athletic — whose last league win was a month ago, at home to Leyton Orient — will be up against a side clubbed 5-0 at home by Coventry on Saturday.

As was the case with Dickov’s men at the Goldsands Stadium, all of those goals came in the second half.

Though Athletic’s manager said his side missed suspended duo Dean Furman and James Wesolowski, both back tomorrow and certain to start, he wasn’t shy on slamming the players who were out on the pitch during the 4-1 debacle.

“We missed both of them,” he added, referring to his captain Furman and vice-captain Wesolowski.

“Coming to Bournemouth, you want your best players and I regard those two as my best players.

“Especially in midfield where they had movement, we struggled with it in the second half.

“I won’t say the exact words I used, but the players know how I feel.

“I am embarrassed by what happened in the second half.

“And I am embarrassed for the fans, who travelled a long way to watch us.”

Dickov disputed the decision from Steve Rushton to book Jonathan Grounds for a 15th-minute foul when the referee had waved for play to continue.

What is beyond doubt is that Grounds is now missing for Hartlepool, with no ready-made replacement obvious for the ever-present left-back.

David Mellor is due back today from his loan at Chorley and could come straight back in, or else Reece Wabara could switch to left-back with Cliff Byrne, Carl Winchester or Connor Brown on the right side of defence.

“Somebody else will come in and get their chance at Hartlepool,” Dickov said. “We pick the players up and we go again looking to win the game.

“But I am not forgetting that (Bournemouth defeat) for a long time.”

Jose Baxter’s yellow card at Bournemouth puts him one booking away from suspension. Byrne is in the same boat.

Athletic still have a game in hand on their rivals and a win at Hartlepool should lift the club back out of the bottom four in time for the Boundary Park test against Shrewsbury on Saturday.