Robbie: I’ll keep a lid on my emotions

PARTY TIME . . . Robbie Simpson (centre) celebrates after scoring at Nottingham Forest. He and Jose Baxter (left) are confident Athletic can beat Coventry.

ROBBIE Simpson won’t know whether to celebrate or simply amble back to his own half should he score against Coventry City tomorrow.

The Athletic striker-turned-midfielder has a habit of scoring special goals in cup games - including two strikes against Nottingham Forest.

But league goals have been harder to come by and Simpson is desperate to put that right - despite his connection with the opposition

“There would be no better way to start (scoring) than against my old club,” admitted Simpson, who joined the Sky Blues in 2007 and was hailed as a future star.

“But I’m thinking, do I celebrate or not? I will have to see how the moment takes me!

“I had some great times there. I’ve only been back to watch games and I’m looking forward to meeting some old friends. But the main thing is to get a result.”

Simpson keeps a close eye on his former club and identified the main threats: “The captain, Carl Baker, is their most creative player. He’s very good on the ball, he’s their leader and most things come from him and Gary McSheffrey. His left foot is really good and he creates quite a bit for them.

“They have just signed Leon Clarke, who has been scoring goals for them. If we can stop those two providing goal-scoring opportunities, hopefully we will be able to get enough goals at the other end.”




I’d even play in goal - Baxter
JOSE Baxter, Athletic’s newly re-signed talisman striker, has revealed all he wants to do is play football – no matter where manager Paul Dickov chooses to play him.

Admitting he signed the new contract because he was playing regularly, loves the club and has the utmost respect for Dickov, Baxter said: “I will play anywhere. Put me in goal and I’ll play there.

“If the manager wants me to go and play at right-back I will - as long as I’m playing!”

Baxter was in the team which lost 1-0 to Coventry at Boundary Park earlier in the season – the Sky Blues’ first win of the npower League One campaign.

But he believes Athletic can turn the tables tomorrow: “I think we did well against Coventry at home.

“Hopefully, we will get the same performance but the right result this time.”