It’s good to talk

Photo: All pictures: ALAN HOWARTH

SHEER DELIGHT: Robbie Simpson celebrates his equaliser for Athletic.

JOSE Baxter revealed that a frank half-time exchange helped spark the brilliant second-half display which felled Forest.

In response to one of Baxter’s team-mates suggesting Athletic should seek to “go out with a bang”, manager Paul Dickov countered that the team should concentrate on gaining a victory few inside the City Ground could envision.

And after Robbie Simpson had scored twice, talismanic Baxter’s 11th goal of the season, direct from a free-kick, sent the visitors through to face Liverpool in the fourth round.

“It was a great day for the club and a great day for the lads as well,” said the 20-year-old former Everton striker.

“We went in at half-time and the gaffer was really positive. He said that there would be a lot of goals in the second half for us.

“One of the lads said, ‘if we are going out, let’s go out with a bang’.

“And the manager said, ‘we’re not going out with a bang — we’re going through with a bang’.

“That’s exactly what we did.”