Backlash delights Johnson

Danny Philliskirk celebrates

ATHLETIC boss Lee Johnson saluted the rapid response from his players as they travelled to Shrewsbury Town last night in the Johnstone's Paint Trophy and blew their hosts away.

Saturday's controversial last-minute Sky Bet League One defeat against Ronnie Moore's Tranmere Rovers was a bitter pill for everyone at Boundary Park to swallow, but at Greenhous Meadow, Athletic turned on the style in their Northern section first-round clash, winning 4-1.

Never mind feeling sorry for themselves, Athletic were rampant as two goals from debutant Danny Philliskirk, a first for the club from Sidney Schmeltz, and Adam Rooney's third of the season edged the visitors a small step closer to a potential Wembley final.

Johnson made three changes to his starting line-up, with Philliskirk, Albert Rusnak and Anton Rodgers drafted in for their first starts of the season.

And he was delighted that his players were so impressive in swiftly shaking off the disappointment of the weekend.

The Athletic boss said: "It was a great response from the lads, but it was coming.

"I'm so pleased we banged in four goals – and we could possibly have had eight.

"It was a good performance all-round, and people who came into the side have put themselves into my mind now for the league games.

"We are looking good, and I'm so pleased we had that game because it has cemented in my mind that what I'm thinking is right.

"We've got to take that form and that movement in the box into the league games.

"It is still a new group of players, don't forget. I'm trying hard to get them to gel together and that's not easy.

"When you've played together for a year or two, players know one another, their little signals and their body language in certain situations, and so it is hard with a new squad.”
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