Johnson’s keeping his feet on the ground

Lee Johnson: remained confident of his plays and players

MANAGER Lee Johnson knew his Athletic team would turn their fortunes round following a shaky start to the season.

There was disappointment and discontent among the faithful after the fifth game of the season at Preston on August 23. Athletic had only two points from their opening four league games and had been convincingly beaten by Middlesbrough in the Capital One Cup.

But in the space of a few days the pendulum swung the other way.

In eight days Latics scored convincing wins against Doncaster, Bradford and table-topping Fleetwood.

“Don’t forget this is still a new group, and the squad will take a bit of time to blend together,” Johnson says.

“It doesn’t matter whether you’re in a Sunday League or the Premier League, it’s sometimes difficult to get your new principles and tactics across to a squad with up to eight new players.

“I knew it would come though I was getting a bit nervous, which is only natural.

“We’re not getting carried away. There’s still buckets of work to be done, but we’ve got real threats going forward and by Christmas every player should be bedded in.”

Fans may see squad strengthened again today or tomorrow with the reopening of the loan transfer window.

Johnson said yesterday he has been thinking about “10 or 11” potential targets.