Time to dig in - Clarke

Athletic skipper Peter Clarke

ATHLETIC'S lowly status can act as a motivational tool, within a squad determined to dig its way out of trouble.

That is the verdict of skipper Peter Clarke, who has played down notions that there is a crisis of confidence spreading among the players with the club currently stationed at the foot of Sky Bet League One.

Clarke is targeting a positive result at Sheffield United that can act as a springboard, with three games in eight days offering a chance to add points to the club's tally very quickly.

"The table doesn't make fantastic reading," admitted Clarke.

"But we have got to use that as a motivation as well.

"The Christmas and New Year period is always busy, but it really does allow you to get some points on the board quite quickly.

"We are capable of doing that and moving away from trouble and up the division.

"There is certainly not a crisis in confidence or anything like that. Winning games clearly breeds more confidence and that is something we are aiming for, starting with Sheffield United on Boxing Day.

"It's a club with a rich history and tradition and they are doing quite well in the league.

"In all honesty they will be expected to win - so that takes away that expectation from us a little.

RESPECT

"We fully respect them but believe we can go there and get a result."

Clarke also moved to back the hard line taken by chairman Simon Corney following on from the hugely disappointing FA Cup exit at Lincoln, which resulted in a cancellation of the players' Christmas party and the removal of food laid on by the club for breakfasts and lunch.

"The result and level of performance for an hour wasn't good.

"As I said on the night, if we are honest - we need to be - it was unacceptable and there has to be a consequence.

"If an individual performed in any given line of work in such a manner then I am sure there would be consequences too.

"I fully understand the situation and hopefully, it makes the penny drop with the players."

Athletic's captain also expressed his sympathy with the club's home supporters, who have only seen one home win in the league so far.

"As a football fan, I sometimes have a moan and groan when my team's not doing as well as I would like," he said.

"We are in a position we don't want to be in and we as players need to give fans something to get excited about.

"If we can do that and they can stick with us, then that will be fantastic and hopefully, we can look back in four months' time and say that what didn't kill us made us stronger.

"Them the club as a whole can grow with it all and progress from here."

MILLWALL moved up to 10th in League One last night with a 3-1 victory at home to Charlton.

Aiden O'Brien opened the scoring for the hosts and Steve Morison scored twice, in between a response from Nicky Ajose.

FORMER Charlton boss Russell Slade has been appointed as the new manager of Coventry City.

The struggling Sky Blues had been without a full-time boss since Tony Mowbray resigned in September, with technical director Mark Venus taking over on a temporary basis.