Haway the lads!

Photo: PICTURE by ALAN HOWARTH

POINTS IN THE BAG . . . Danny Philliskirk fires home Athletic’s winner at Greenhous Meadow last night.

A TURNAROUND sparked by an early substitution left Athletic savouring a third away-day victory in eight days.

Though the 2-1 triumph at Shrewsbury wasn’t the most convincing performance of the season, Athletic left Greenhous Meadow with three more points thanks to goals from Charlie MacDonald and Danny Philliskirk.

But Lee Johnson’s men had to do it the hard way. A poor defensive mix-up helped Gozie Ugwu volley in the opening goal and it was only when Jonson Clarke-Harris was introduced to the action at the expense of Mike Petrasso in the 34th minute that Athletic began to bare their teeth.

“We were off it here,” said Johnson, whose side is now 14th in League One ahead of Sunday’s return to Boundary Park against Bradford City.

“But the boys showed good character. A lot of times we have dominated games and come out of them with nothing. Though we didn’t dominate at all, we probably still had the better chances.

“Shrewsbury will feel aggrieved to come out with no points. But at the same time, we have earned that with our performances over the course of the season.

“Sometimes we have played well and it hasn’t gone our way. Here we were very average and have ended up winning.”