Attacking intent

ONCE beaten, twice goal-shy is the fate Athletic manager Lee Johnson hopes to avoid when he pits his wits against Nigel Clough again tonight (7.45pm kick-off).

In the opening home match of the season Clough — then manager of Championship side Derby — left Boundary Park with a 1-0 win in the first round of the Capital One Cup.

Much has changed since. Clough has turned ailing fortunes at tonight’s opponents Sheffield United on their head, orchestrating a remarkable rise to the outer edges of play-off contention and taking the side to the last four of the FA Cup. Much of that success can be attributed to former Oldham star Jose Baxter.

In trying to break down Clough’s side with the personnel at his disposal, Johnson hopes he can extend Oldham’s run to eight undefeated games.

“It’s a home game for us so we want to take the game to them,” said Johnson. “I know Nigel Clough well. He has had a fantastic spell since he has been there and has built up some real momentum. He won’t want that to end.

“There isn’t quite the pressure on this game that there has been on others and hopefully, that we can play with a bit more freedom. Tonight we focus on ourselves.”

While hitting plenty of goals away from home at times in 2013-14, Athletic have struggled to find the net at Boundary Park.

Johnson acknowledges that 21 goals in 21 league matches isn’t up to scratch: “It’s something we definitely have to look at,” he added. “We haven’t scored enough goals, home or away. We can improve on it.”

The last meeting between the sides ended in a 1-1 draw at Bramall Lane in December, with a Jose Baxter drive levelling after Jonson Clarke-Harris’s opener.