Bosses united in praise

ATHLETIC manager Lee Johnson was content to have pushed Wolves all the way in a frantic,

old-fashioned FA Cup tie at Boundary Park.

Kirk Millar’s late shot almost turned the contest decisively the way of the home side at a rainy Boundary Park.

As it was, following an early goal from Genseric Kusunga which was answered by Scott Golbourne, both these sides of vastly differing financial means maintain hope of making it into

round two.

“I think it was a fair result,” said Johnson, who takes his men to Molineux for a replay tomorrow week, for the right to face Mansfield at home in round two.

“In the second half it was an excellent game, a real cup tie with the rain

coming down as it always seems to when we play each other.

“I was really pleased with our lads. We had chances in that second half and we were possibly unlucky not to nick the win.

“It was a good header (from Kusunga). We worked on the set piece and he was brave to stick it in.

“I was disappointed with their goal. There was lots of endeavour and I fancied Kirk (Millar) to score, as he has got that in his locker.

“Wolves are a good side. They are a former Premier League side who still have an awful lot of talent.

“They are a massive club and have good players. Sometimes, it is hard to get the ball off them.

“We set our stall out to get at them and we did that and got the goal.

“A couple of times they were good enough to put together 16 or 17 passes and it was difficult to get close to them.

“(At the end) I thought we were the side in the ascendancy. Monty (Cristian Montano) came on and started a bit slowly and didn’t do a lot and then Kirk came on and affected the game.”

While the split-gate attendance of 3,916 won’t do a great deal to boost Athletic’s coffers, those who were

present and backing the home team made themselves heard and it was fully appreciated by the manager.

“It was a really good atmosphere, wasn’t it? I like it when they are about one side, singing,” Johnson added.

“I heard the voices and the noise and enjoyed it thoroughly.”

Johnson’s counterpart Kenny Jackett gave an indication of how tight a game this was by praising his men’s determination.

“There was character, heart and commitment in abundance from our team," said Jackett, who led Millwall to last season's FA Cup semi-finals.

“It was a tough game and typical cup tie with a good atmosphere.”