IRON WILL TO WIN

NOW HEAR THIS . . . Freddie Ladapo celebrates after putting Athletic in front.

AFTER nailing down a first home win in the league in impressive fashion against leaders Scunthorpe, Athletic manager Stephen Robinson was moved to praise his side's resilience as much as their skill.

Freddie Ladapo and Lee Erwin were on target late in the first half in a 2-0 victory that lifted the club to 21st in Sky Bet League One, only three points off the top half.

Defensively, another shut-out - against the country's leading scorers - put Athletic at the top of the division's clean sheet table with six from 14 games.

"The build-up to the first goal from Freddie was fantastic," said Robinson. "It was really good football, with 10 or 15 passes involved and a super finish.

"Lee Erwin, we know what kind of quality he has got. I'm demanding more from him - work-rate and holding up the ball - and when he plays like that, he is unplayable.

"We are delighted with the result and goals definitely change games.

"When we take the lead, there is a lot of belief in this team that we are very good without the ball.

"Out of possession, we work our socks off and it's what it means to people not to concede goals with bodies put on the line.

"Peter Clarke organises at the back and Paul Green in midfield.

"Scunthorpe have run away with the league so far and were four points clear. They are a very good side.

"Graham Alexander has a team that plays very good football and that is hard-working, with no little quality in it as well.

"For us to take three points off them, we are delighted.

"We have played better than that I believe and not won games.

"But we genuinely believe in the dressing room that we could get something from this game."

The defeat of Scunthorpe, only their second of the season, represented a third win in four outings in all competitions for Athletic.

Robinson admitted the club's results at home had been a worry, but with Bristol Rovers next up on Saturday, he is focused on further enhancing the current positive form.

"It has been a bit of a noose round our neck and to get that first win at home, especially against Scunthorpe was great," he added.

"Our performance at Bolton for 80-per-cent of the game was good, as was Gillingham and as was Fleetwood.

"It is only a start, but we believe we can go on from here and put a little run together."

The manager also highlighted the role of Ousmane Fane in the line-up.

"He is horrible! In terms of coaching he is only the equivalent of 17 or 18 years old. He is only going to get better," Robinson said.

"He patrols the middle of the pitch and we know he can be better on the ball at times.

"What he does is, he gives us security in the middle and that allows our full-backs Jamie Reckord and Cameron Dummigan to really get forward and give us an outlet wide.

"We are delighted with him."