Making strides

FOCAL POINT . . . Ryan Flynn has played his part in three wins from the last four matches

TWO assists, too many telling little angled passes to tally up and a match-winning goal at Gillingham.

October has been the month of Athletic's revival and Ryan Flynn has been at the heart of plenty that is good across the past four outings.

The first of three wins in that sequence came at Fleetwood.

Yes, it was in the Checkatrade Trophy reviled by many, but winning is winning and Stephen Robinson's side found a taste for it in front of a crowd of 793.

Flynn's sudden burst of acceleration and composure in laying the ball off neatly for Billy Mckay to fire home smartly in the first half summed up exactly why Robinson worked so hard to bring him in: the alchemy of creating a golden chance from a nondescript situation.

At Gillingham, Flynn constantly prompted and probed and netted the match-winner; and in the rousing win over Scunthorpe, it was his shift to a central position from off the left flank that confused and his pass to opening scorer Freddie Ladapo that helped nick Athletic the lead in what had been a tight contest.

Perhaps the start to the campaign of the former Sheffield United man, schooled at Anfield, had been slow to burn.

But the 28-year-old, not often cited as one with deep experience, but who has now accumulated 166 league appearances at this level, insists that Athletic's attacking play as a whole is improving steadily.

"I have to try to effect that game as much as I can. The first goal was a very good one, built up all the way from the back and played through. It is just those finishing touches in the final third.

"We have missed that end product, but we are starting to get it.

"My job is just to fulfil my role for the team, try to help the attackers going forward and chip in with a few more goals.

"Things were always going to take a little bit of time here and when you don't get the results, from the outside the pressure will perhaps build.

"But we know what we have got within the whole squad. The base has been there in terms of keeping clean sheets and the attacking football is coming now.

"I am involved in that and have to give a little bit more.

"There are good signs. It's still early doors and we remain near the bottom of the table. But it is all positive from us.

"Anyone who saw the Scunthorpe game will have seen that."

TECHNICAL

While the likes of Cameron Dummigan and Carl Winchester have shone with their technical ability lately, Flynn stresses that the continued strong work ethic of the team without the ball, right through to the strikers, is key if Athletic are to make it four wins from five against Bristol Rovers.

"The work-rate and pressing - from the front as well, with Freddie and Lee - makes everyone's jobs behind them that bit easier," he added.

"You defend as a team and that's why we have been getting so many clean sheets.

"It was a good night against Scunthorpe - but let's make it a good week.

"Bristol Rovers got a 3-3 draw at MK Dons, so they can obviously score goals while we will hope they can be got at as well.

"We have beaten the side who are top of the table by four points, so there is no sense in worrying too much about anyone else.

"We will look at their strengths. We kept Josh Morris very quiet, so will aim to do the same against the dangerous players for Bristol Rovers and look to exploit them as well."

Tomorrow's fixtures -

Bradford v Sheff Utd; Chesterfield v Scunthorpe; Gillingham v Charlton; Millwall v Fleetwood; MK Dons v Southend; ATHLETIC v Bristol Rovers; Peterborough v Wimbledon; Port Vale v Oxford Utd; Shrewsbury v Northampton; Swindon v Walsall.