Johnson’s class closing in on club record

THREE more games without defeat will give Athletic an all-time club record.

The squad departed for the West Country today ahead of tomorrow’s Bristol City clash boasting a run of 13 straight fixtures without loss.

A win or draw at Ashton Gate, followed by a similar result at home to Leyton Orient in the FA Cup, and Athletic will have replicated the 15-match run registered across the 1951-52 and 1952-53 seasons.

“We would of course love to break any record,” said manager Lee Johnson. “It’s a short career and it would give players something to be proud of.”

Athletic still have a way to go to get close to the club’s best-ever unbeaten run of league matches.

Joe Royle guided the team to 20 fixtures without defeat in the old Division Two in 1990 - but that sequence included a League Cup first round defeat by Notts County and a second-round exit to Leeds.