That’s more like it!
Reporter: MATTHEW CHAMBERS
Date published: 11 February 2013
Towering centre-back Jean-Yves Mvoto (left) rises above the MK Dons defence to restore Athletic’s lead a minute before half-time.
Athletic 3, MK Dons 1
Players respond as stand-in boss gets tactics right
SUCCESSFULLY combining sparkling attacking football with resolute defending late on, Athletic picked up three points against the Dons that may well turn out to be crucial in the battle to avoid relegation.
A neat finish from Lee Barnard – the striker’s second goal in two appearances – and a superb Jean-Yves Mvoto header were answered by a Daniel Powell goal in the first half of an entertaining clash at Boundary Park.
Chris Iwelumo’s first strike for Athletic in the second half gave breathing space for stand-in boss Tony Philliskirk, who bolted the door with substitutions designed to congest the midfield.
The full importance of this victory was only appreciated afterwards. With Scunthorpe and Colchester both claiming points, had Athletic failed to capitalise on their clear superiority, the club would have sunk deeper into relegation trouble.
But due to the way they won, there is far more optimism surrounding their chances of escape than was present after Paul Dickov’s last game in charge - a miserable 3-1 loss at Walsall.
There were several star turns as Philliskirk shuffled his pack and reverted to 4-4-2. James Tarkowski was recalled for a first league start in three months and barely put a foot wrong alongside Jean-Yves Mvoto; Connor Brown was much steadier at right-back and at left-back, Jonathan Grounds was a picture of studied excellence.
In midfield, a svelte-looking Lee Croft charged up and down the pitch like a man possessed; on the opposite flank Jordan Obita’s starting debut showcased an old-school winger.
Up front, Iwelumo was better than at Walsall while Barnard combined energy and clever movement with a keen eye for a finish.
Crisis? Not here, not this weekend.
It’s true the side enjoyed the sort of good fortune that has eluded Athletic recently.
Dean Bouzanis made two superb saves and MK Dons were profligate in front of goal.
Former £7million striker Alan Smith had an afternoon to forget for the ambitious visitors, whose league form is barely better than Athletic’s right now.
