Derby home test in first round for Latics

ATHLETIC will take on Derby County at home in the first round of next season’s Capital One Cup.

Today’s draw pits Lee Johnson’s men against the Championship outfit managed by another second-generation manager, Nigel Clough, son of the late, great Brian.

Derby finished last season in 10th place, seven points adrift of the play-off positions. It is 10 years since the clubs met, in the same competition, with Athletic running out 2-1 winners after extra time at Pride Park.

The game against the Rams is the second of the 2013-14 season and will be played during the week beginning Monday, August 5.



Sidney Schmeltz turned down the chance of playing in next season’s UEFA Champions League to sign for Athletic, the Chronicle can reveal.

Manager Johnson has hailed his signing of the Dutch winger, promising fans player with the sort of raw pace that hasn’t been seen for Athletic for years.

The 24-year-old rejected an offer from Slovakian champions Slovan Bratislava.

“Sidney is very quick and very balanced too,” Johnson told the Chronicle.

“He has a level of acceleration that defenders can’t handle.”



Capital One Cup first round draw —

Bury v Crewe; Shrewsbury v Bolton; Middlesbrough v Accrington; Doncaster v Rochdale; Preston v Blackpool; Barnsley v Scunthorpe; Tranmere v Mansfield; York v Burnley; Notts County v Fleetwood; Sheffield United v Burton; ATHLETIC v Derby; Carlisle v Blackburn; Morecambe v Wolves; Nottingham Forest v Hartlepool; Leeds v Chesterfield; Huddersfield v Bradford; Rotherham v Sheffield Wednesday; Port Vale v Walsall; Gillingham v Bristol City; Bournemouth v Portsmouth; Wycombe v Leicester; Brentford v Dagenham; Exeter v QPR; Charlton v Oxford; Southend v Yeovil; Millwall v AFC Wimbledon; Swindon v Torquay; Birmingham v Plymouth; Stevenage v Ipswich; Cheltenham v Crawley; Bristol Rovers v Watford; Northampton v MK Dons; Leyton Orient v Coventry; Colchester v Peterborough; Brighton v Newport.

Ties to be played during the week commencing August 5.