Work ethic paying dividends

Athletic’S Saturday opponents Doncaster Rovers further buttressed their impressive rearguard by signing defender Andy Butler this week.

The 31-year-old defender brought to a close a short and unsuccessful spell with Sheffield United by penning a two-and-a-half year contract with Paul Dickov’s men.

It followed a loan with the club which included a star turn at SportsDirect.com Park, where he kept a clean sheet in the big second-round FA Cup victory over Athletic.

“All I want to do is play football,” said Butler, who nearly joined Athletic when Dickov was manager.

“I want to put the Sheffield United thing to bed now and move on. I’m here to do a job for Doncaster Rovers and get them pushing towards the top of the table.”

Fellow centre-back Luke McCullough also extended his stay by two-and-a-half years and both moves illustrate a new-found stability at the core of Dickov’s improving side.

After beating Athletic in the second round of the FA Cup, Dickov’s side lost twice at home in consecutive outings, 1-0 to Notts County in the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy and 2-1 to Gillingham in League One. Fortunes have been good since then.

Rovers picked up a notable 1-0 win at Swindon and followed that up with a 2-0 home victory over Coventry.

Rovers are feeling the benefit of having a settled back four, the same set of players who kept a clean sheet in the FA Cup win at SportsDirect.com Park.