Stretched to the limit

NASTY . . . Athletic physio Jon Guy attends to Matt Smith, who required 11 stitches in the head wound.

All-change for Crewe after Mvoto picks up ban

ATHLETIC’S squad will be stretched to breaking point for the visit of Crewe to Boundary Park on Saturday.

Jean-Yves Mvoto is to serve his second suspension of the season. The centre-back, sent off at Crawley and banned for three games two months ago, collected a fifth caution of the campaign in the home loss to Doncaster yesterday.

Mvoto appeared to make minimal contact with Rovers striker Billy Paynter as the pair jostled for position in front of the dug-outs in the second half of Athletic’s 2-1 defeat. The main offender in hauling back Paynter was James Wesolowski.

But the Chronicle understands referee Rob Lewis booked Mvoto for his offence, as opposed to Wesolowski’s.

And that means Dickov — already without suspended striker Robbie Simpson for two games — cannot appeal the yellow card on the grounds of mistaken identity.

“I asked if there is anything we can do about it and was told no,” said Dickov. “It was so blatant it wasn’t Jean who gave it away.

“James Wesolowski was the player who pulled Paynter back, but now we are going to miss Jean, which is disappointing.”

On the defensive reshuffle necessitated by Mvoto’s ban, Dickov pinpointed two possibilities, both involving full-backs shifting inside to the centre with Connor Brown recalled. James Tarkowski is currently struggling with a foot injury.

“Reece (Wabara) can go in there as he has done before with Connor Brown coming in and Jonathan Grounds can go in there as well,” added Dickov.

Athletic’s manager felt his side was unfortunate to lose to Doncaster.

David Syers’ added-time header secured the points for the visitors, who were outplayed in the first half.

“It was a sickener at the end as we had played ever so well up to that point,” said Dickov, whose side has lost three games in a row and won only three at home all season.

Matt Smith needed 11 stitches in a head wound and Mchangama three in cut knee, but both were able to carry on playing through the pain.