Different test, same goal

Cristian Montano: wants another peak show from team

CRISTIAN Montano got his season off to a brilliant start on Saturday - and wants to build on the dramatic result with Capital One Cup success tonight.

Montano (21) grabbed an early contender for ‘Goal of the Month’ at the Lamex Stadium when his field-length run with the ball was capped by a cheeky finish for Athletic’s third of four goals.

Tonight’s challenge against Nigel Clough’s Championship outfit Derby County will be a very different one - but another win is clearly on the agenda for confident Latics.

Said Montano: “It was really tough at Stevenage, but we made it hard for ourselves at times.

“The main thing was for us to come home with the three points and that’s exactly what we did. Tonight’s game will be a real test, at home to a top Championship side; then on Saturday it’s back to the league against Walsall.

“There’s no reason why we can’t win both those games. We’ve just got to stay positively and keep pushing. The lads are definitely up for that.”

Athletic boss Lee Johnson sees tonight’s cup tie as a perfect chance for Montano and his team-mates to shine against loftier opposition.

“My lads are hungry to show that they can be in the Championship,” said Johnson

“As a group I’m continually asking them to be the best they can be, and this is the perfect test.

“Can they be better than a team that’s established in the Championship? We don’t know yet, is the honest answer, but we’ll keep learning.

“I learned a lot about the team on Saturday.

“I learned that they had the character to come back and keep playing their football when things could have gone against them. I’m pleased with that.



THE bookmakers might have underestimated Athletic in tonight’s Capital One Cup first-round tie against Championship side Derby County, writes Chronicle betting pundit KEITH McHUGH.

Athletic looked superb offensively in Saturday’s 4-3 victory at Stevenage; a repeat of that display would certainly ask questions of the Rams.

Athletic can be backed at 5-2 to win the game with Betvictor, while Saturday’s two-goal hero, Jose Baxter, will be a popular choice as first goalscorer at 7-1 with Paddy Power and Ladbrokes.