Upbeat Johnson: no fear

ATHLETIC manager Lee Johnson is busy preparing his side for three matches in eight days against Sky Bet League One promotion hopefuls Peterborough, Wolves and Swindon.

PETERBOROUGH’S visit to Boundary Park kicks off a run of three consecutive matches against promotion contenders — and Athletic’s manager says there’s nothing to fear.

Boss Darren Ferguson rolls up with his sixth-placed Posh side on Saturday hoping to complete a league double over his counterpart Lee Johnson.

Three days later Wolves, in third place, hope to do the same as they try to narrow the gap on top two Leyton Orient and Brentford.

And on February 1 Athletic travel to Swindon — in ninth place but still with play-off ambitions — to round off a fiendish eight days.

Johnson’s men have already beaten two of the teams, Wolves and Swindon. And Athletic’s two 1-0 defeats in four days at Walsall and Port Vale weren’t wholly disastrous in terms of Athletic’s continued good work in the middle.

“I don’t see the games coming up as being any different than those that have gone before,” said Johnson.

“There is nobody to fear in this division and outside both boxes we are dominating every team we come up against. The task is to get things right inside the two boxes.”

The transfer window closes on Friday week, and Athletic have been linked with several strikers.

Johnson says nothing is imminent, but “things can change quickly”. There might, however, be players heading for the exit soon.

Reports in Scotland suggest out-of-favour striker Adam Rooney is a target for Aberdeen and Hibs.

Should he depart, it would free funds and help Athletic’s quest for a new striker.



ATHLETIC’S reserves take on their Manchester City equivalent tomorrow night at Boundary Park (7pm).

On January 29, Athletic travel to Burnley in the same competition’s quarter-finals stage (Turf Moor, 7pm).



GOALKEEPER Luke Simpson has returned to Athletic after completing a month’s loan spell at Workington.