Character-building

IT’S THERE: Adam Lockwood (left) is all smiles after putting Athletic ahead at Stadium MK.

Lads can take credit despite agonising loss — Lockwood

MUD, sweat and cheers are the order of the moment for Athletic’s robust veteran defender Adam Lockwood.

With pitches across the country resembling those of yesteryear thanks to heavy recent rainfall, manager Lee Johnson has tinkered with his ethos as well as his personnel.

In have come more physically robust operators — none more so than Lockwood — to cope with the challenging conditions.

The former Yeovil and Doncaster man produced a typically old-fashioned goal, a back-header rarely seen these days, in handing Athletic a deserved lead at MK Dons on Saturday.

Though things didn’t go to plan - Oldham lost 2-1 - Lockwood (32) continues to look the part in leading from the back.

And the centre-back’s message to his team-mates is that they shouldn’t let their minds become as overcast as February skies.

“In conditions like these, character plays a big part and there is a lot of that in the dressing room,” said Lockwood. “At MK Dons, the lads came out with credit as to how they performed and conducted themselves in difficult circumstances. We had a little setback but I am sure we will put things right and move forward.”

Gillingham are likely to offer a test of Lockwood and his new centre-back partner James Wilson’s ability in the air when they come to Boundary Park this weekend. Johnson’s men want a third home win in five matches. There is no gloom on the horizon as far as upbeat Lockwood is concerned.

“Every week is a different challenge, with different sorts of players and approaches to games,” added the Yorkshireman.

“MK Dons was totally different to the past couple of weeks. This is a fairly young group and it can only be good for us to learn as we go along.

“The way the club is doing things is really positive, the lads are buying into that and it is refreshing.”