Latics can make life horrible for high-fliers

GOALKEEPER Connor Ripley has backed Athletic's front men to fire

TALENTED goalkeeper Connor Ripley is determined to make it a "horrible" night for Scunthorpe, as Athletic aim to get beyond home jitters to claim three points against the league leaders.

On-loan Middlesbrough man Ripley (23) has kept five clean sheets in Sky Bet League One for the club so far this season - a record only matched by Bradford's Colin Doyle.

Up against the country's leading scorers at SportsDirect.com Park tonight, Ripley will have his work cut out to make it six.

He is confident, though, that Athletic will soon find their own shooting boots and start to move up the table.

"They are a good team and we have to be wary of them, but if we defend the way we know we can then we shouldn't be worried," said Ripley, whose former Boro colleague Luke Williams is on the books at the Glanford Park club, albeit injured currently.

"We know we have goals in our team. Before Bolton, we scored four in two games.

"When I train with the players, they score some brilliant goals in small-sided games and shooting practice.

'TOP BIN'

"I know it's there. We need them to have the confidence to let one go on the edge of the box and find the top bin.

"Scunthorpe have got there on credit and well done to them.

"But we want to make it a horrible game for them."

The crowd numbers for Scunthorpe are set to be boosted by a special ticket offer which allows fans paying on the night to gain free entry to the Bristol Rovers game on Saturday.

While his manager Stephen Robinson talked of a "fear factor" at home, where Athletic have yet to win this term in the league, Ripley feels it is the responsibility of the players to simply get on with the job in hand.

"I love playing at home, in front of your own fans," the goalkeeper added.

"I like to think that when teams come to my team's home ground, it's a tough place to come to.

"We haven't made it so hard. But the reasons why we are not winning? I haven't a clue.

"We are all professional players and you have to take a few boos. At times, we have deserved to be booed off and I will hold my hands up for that.

"We just have to get minds focused and play as we do when we are away.

"There is nothing to worry about. If someone boos, that's part of the game.

"I think the fans have been really good to us, supporting us and making lots of noise.

"Now we have to repay them with goals and winning games."

As for the potential to quickly climb a league table, Ripley reflected on his time at Motherwell where a 2-1 win at Celtic last December was the start of a run that saw the club move up from third-bottom of the Scottish Premiership to fourth within the space of four months.

"It can change so quickly," he said. "If we win, we could be up in 16th."

Athletic (probable, 4-4-2): Ripley; Dummigan, Clarke, Burgess, Reckord; Winchester, Green, Fane, Flynn; Erwin, Ladapo.

Subs (from): Kettings, Law, Dunne, Wilson, Klok, McLaughlin, Banks, Osei, Mckay, Jahraldo-Martin.