Consider it a job well done

Photo: Pictures: ALAN HOWARTH

Athletic winger Lee Croft gets a tug on his shirt as he tries to set up an attack.

Athletic 2, Crawley 1
THE signs are that a revolution is taking place at Boundary Park.

This is a mild-mannered shifting of the sands; it takes careful analysis to dig down into what change has occurred during 31-year-old’s manager Lee Johnson’s eight games in charge.

Consider this: 14 points have been won in those games, taking Athletic to safety with two games to spare.

Given the peril Johnson stepped into five weeks ago, it’s an achievement to be proud of.

Consider the attendances, which are blossoming. For the visit of Crawley - hardly one of the division’s big draws - Athletic boasted 4,638 home supporters, a season-high.

Even given that this was the last home game of 2012-13, the number carries promise.

Consider the form and goals of Matt Smith, who powered one in from the edge of the area with his left foot here for his third crucial strike in as many games.

Faith in the big man’s singular talent has paid off to the tune of a likely £2million club earnings across the league and especially the cup run.

Consider the sudden and welcome integration of Kirk Millar and David Mellor, both virtual outcasts under the previous regime, now pivotal members of the squad.

And consider the smiles that have been stimulated during Johnson’s reign. Results and performances — the latter have made Boundary Park a happy place again.

There are nominally two games left at Shrewsbury and Leyton Orient in 2012-13 but for Athletic they serve simply as preparation for 2013-14.

Eighteen players are out of contract at Boundary Park this summer and to a great extent future fortunes will be described by the squad-shaping performed between seasons.

Match-winner Mvoto is likely to be a Championship target, as are Matt Smith, Jose Baxter and possibly a few others.

Things will continue to be different for Johnson now — hectic and difficult. This is the life of a football manager, and on the evidence so far, he seems cut out to cope.

Athletic were far from great against hard-working Crawley, who entered the game with a very remote hope of making the play-offs.

Unchanged, Baxter began on the bench and his team-mates lacked cohesion and inspiration in a dull first half.

Perhaps the two previous winning shows at Bury and at home to Yeovil had taken the fizz out of them.

Just after the break Matt Smith rode a challenge, moved inside from the right flank and blasted a low left-footed shot which Paul Jones was unable to prevent passing him into the net.

Robbie Simpson forced Jones into a flying, punched save, before Richie Barker’s men drew deservedly.

Mvoto had the final word. Despite his manager urging players to remain in defensive mode - in the knowledge a point was all Athletic needed to avoid relegation, the tall defender wandered into the Crawley area and headed powerfully down and into the roof of the goal from Baxter’s left-wing free-kick.

Vive l’Athletic! Things are finally looking up.