No excuses left for Latics

ATHLETIC striker Matt Smith, who caused the Liverpool defence lots of problems, celebrates his second goal in the thrilling FA Cup-tie.

SIMON Corney was deep in thought.

The biggest game to hit Boundary Park in nearly a decade was still a good 90 minutes away from kicking off.

The chairman was alone in his regular seat already in the directors’ box, mind occupied not with pound signs but the fate of his manager.

We called on a decision to be made on Paul Dickov’s future following the loss at Coventry last week.

As Athletic slipped down the division towards the bottom four, our feeling was that a decision must be made — give Dickov the help he needs to stimulate a recovery or get someone else to do the job.

Corney’s feeling was that he had already backed his manager by securing the signing of Jose Baxter — and that the team was good enough to be performing better.

Dickov, for his part, is a proud man and a fighter. It would have been easy for him — and possibly

face-saving — to walk away when his three staff members were told not to come back into work just before the start of the New Year.

Privately, he was “gutted” to lose right-hand man Gerry Taggart, fitness coach Paul Butler - both arrived with him two and a half years ago - and first-team coach Lee Duxbury.

“We get on with it” has been his mantra; Dickov doesn’t do the throwing-in of towels.

But according to the word prior to the unforgettable Liverpool tie, Corney’s mind was almost made up.

Seven defeats in eight league games meant he had to follow the advice of the supporters and let Dickov go. The manager’s league record didn’t stand up.

But how quickly careers can be transformed in football.

A belligerent, stunning performance against the five-time European champions followed as Boundary Park rocked like in the Joe Royle days.

How was it even possible that a team which had succumbed miserably at Notts County five days earlier had seen off a high-ranking Premier League side? Nobody has yet given a convincing answer.

Athletic, even with a thin squad and without regular captain Dean Furman and Cristian Montano, really are good enough to be performing much better in the league.

Having got a reprieve, Dickov knows better than anyone he has to get more from his men, and regularly.

A couple of signings may now be possible. Even for a club as cash-strapped as Athletic, it would be a brave chairman who refuses to countenance reinforcements after such a monumental victory.

League form is where it’s at for the next three weeks.

If Matt Smith can send a defender of the class of Martin Skrtel whining to the referee about being too rough, he can out-muscle Walsall’s centre-backs.

If Carl Winchester can skate down the left-wing past a Premier League defence and supply a pinpoint cross, he can do the same against Yeovil.

And if James Wesolowski can dominate the centre of a midfield area against a duo worth a total of £31million, he can more than compete with the best MK Dons have to offer.

Corney and Dickov both know what is needed. So does everyone who watched on Sunday.

There are no excuses left for Athletic now. The players must go out and do likewise, again and again.