Practice will make perfect

DETERMINED AS EVER . . . Mike Jones is confident of scoring every time he takes a free-kick.

MIKE Jones was disappointed he didn’t add to his four goals for the season at Gillingham, but has backed himself to continue to score from set-pieces - hopefully starting at home against Notts County tomorrow.

The 27-year-old midfielder felt he should have gone for broke more when attacking Carl Winchester’s pull-back at Priestfield. As it was, a tame low shot off a tricky playing surface was stopped by Gills’ goalkeeper Stuart Nelson.

At that stage, Athletic had cancelled out a two-goal deficit – and could have gone ahead in a remarkable, error-strewn opening 45 minutes.

It is the sort of opportunity Athletic can ill-afford to pass up if the play-offs aren't to start receding as a possibility amid a frantic upcoming period of fixtures.

“I was disappointed not to put it away,” said Jones, a rock-solid presence. “The pitch wasn't great so I just tried to play it safe - but I probably played it a bit too safe. From those positions, you would like to think you can put it away.”

A game earlier at Fleetwood, Jones executed a perfect free-kick. Manager Lee Johnson later described the hours he puts in to hitting the 'letterbox' over the defensive wall and under the crossbar. Jones isn't in the mood to pass on responsibilities for taking free-kicks elsewhere.

“I have always liked taking them. If I was on free-kicks around the box all season, I would like to think I’d get a few goals.

“We seem to be saying it a lot that we are missing our chances. If we aren’t careful, before we know it the chance will have slipped away. We need to start winning. Hopefully it can start against Notts County.”