My lads had one eye on the cup

Paul Dickov: team's focus on Liverpool game proved costly

1 More Image(s) In Gallery

UNDER-FIRE Athletic boss Paul Dickov felt his team’s first-half no-show at Notts County last night was down partly to thoughts of the forthcoming Liverpool FA Cup tie.

Though the side improved after stern words at the interval, one County goal was enough to separate the two out-of-form teams.

Athletic slipped to a seventh defeat in eight league games.

“We should really just record these interviews at the moment,” said Dickov. “In the second half, after they had a bit of a rollocking, they went out and had a go. We could have got something from the game.

“We have got to learn as a group that you can’t just turn up on a match day and expect things to happen, with one eye on the next game.

“The Liverpool game takes care of itself. We are down there and we are in it. So we have to go out and get points in the league, because the form we are in is nowhere near good enough.”



ATHLETIC’S reserve-team Manchester Senior Cup tie against Bury, which was due to take place today but for a postponement due to snow, will now be played at Chapel Road on Thursday, April 4 (1pm kick-off).



The special inflatable, warm-air pitch dome that will cover the Boundary Park playing surface until the Liverpool cup-tie this weekend arrived today.

The dome is offered to teams whose games will be televised, to ensure the fixture goes ahead in otherwise freezing weather.