Boss praises character after Latics’ perfect start

Connor Brown leads the celebrations after Cristian Montano’s superb goal for Athletic at Stevenage.

LEE Johnson is looking forward to having a “good time” watching his Athletic side this season after they got the 2013-14 campaign off to a breathtaking start.

Athletic overcame a considerable opening-day hurdle at Stevenage as they prevailed 4-3 at the Lamex Stadium in a see-saw Sky Bet League One match which featured 12 yellow cards.

Jose Baxter was the late hero as his 86th-minute penalty winner crushed Graham Westley’s Stevenage, who had led at half-time but then found themselves having to come back from a two-goal deficit to make it 3-3 with little time remaining.

Manager Johnson has made his attacking intentions clear over the summer with some of the astute signings he has made, and already he has earned some reward.

Derby County are next to feel the force in the Capital One Cup first round back at Boundary Park tomorrow night, but looking back at the thrilling win at Stevenage, Johnson clearly feels his new young team are already on the right track.

He said: “To be honest I was a bit disappointed with some of the goals we conceded — particularly the last two — but you can see we’ve got bags of character in there.

“You’re not supposed to win games like that. We were 3-1 up, but then for it to go to 3-3, most teams wouldn’t have then gone on to win from that position.

“It was great to get there in the end, though.

“This is a new side don’t forget and we’re still building something here.

“We’ll go over the good things and the bad things, but overall what a fantastic day.

“We’ve got goals in us, it’s obvious.

“Charlie MacDonald was outstanding, as was Adam Rooney, but the whole side played well.

“I’m loving this group. We’re inexperienced, yes, but if they keep on delivering performances and excitement for the crowds this season then we’re all going to have a good time.

“I’d rather score four and not concede of course, but we did enough when we might not be as lucky in the future.”

Though Baxter will grab most of the headlines thanks to his late heroics, Johnson also praised Cristian Montano after he scored the pick of the four goals.

He pounced on a poorly-taken corner-kick in the second half before going on a near length-of-the-field which ended with a delicate chip over goalkeeper Chris Day for Athletic’s third goal.

“Monty really has been flying,” said Johnson.

“He’s come back like a man possessed this year.

“In the first half I’d have liked a little bit more from him, but in the second half you could see exactly what he can do.

“On his day he’s capable of winning a game, though we have got a few players in the squad like that.”