Brown bites hard to take the bait

The Latics ace writes every week for Chron Sport

ARE we safe yet? Logically you would say yes, since every team below us in the table needs to win all their remaining fixtures, which seems unlikely.

But mathematically we are not yet assured of League One football next season, so we still need to pick up points in our next game, rather then rely on other results doing us a favour.

The Easter matches turned out to be fruitful for Athletic. We took four points from two tricky fixtures and that would normally have seen us in a more commanding position. But those clubs at the bottom of the division are defying the odds with performances that help them to hang on to our coat tails - and prolong our tension!

The Good Friday battle against Colchester was a must-win for both sides, but fortune favoured us when we needed it - thanks to the most unlikely of match winners in young Connor Brown, with his first league goal.

I was really pleased for Connor. He has had a tough season with a knee injury and has also been out of favour at times when he’s been fit for selection. But I think it’s fair to say that he has been one of our outstanding players in the last couple of months.

Browny is a really funny guy who loves a bit of banter. He probably gets the most ribbing out of anyone in the squad, but he can take it as well as dish it.

On Easter Monday, we entertained Coventry City at Boundary Park in a contest that felt like a pre-season fixture. With only a point between us, it seemed like a match with nothing riding on it and the opposition seemed to be going through the motions. The boys were disappointed not to take three points.



WE TRAVEL to Brunton Park and face Carlisle United in another battle in which the outcome could have a dramatic effect on either club’s campaign.

We find ourselves in a position where we can actually relegate teams we play, which is so much better than playing end-of-season matches that have no relevance.

We are all committed to finishing strongly and extending our unbeaten run, because it gives an impetus to pick up where we left off next term.