Focus on Fleetwood

Photo: Darren Robinson

ATHLETIC boss Stephen Robinson wants his side to be more clinical in front of goal.

ATHLETIC are heading into the Fleetwood battle tomorrow at full pelt, with manager Stephen Robinson determined not to let outside factors affect his thinking.

"We need a result at Fleetwood - and that is all I am concentrating on," said the manager, who has fitness concerns over defensive duo Charles Dunne and Brian Wilson, as well as winger Ryan McLaughlin.

A host of players - Dunne, Marc Klok, Lee Croft, Freddie Ladapo and Cameron Burgess - are on short-term deals that run out in at an undisclosed point in early January. The latter two players have six-month loans and Ladapo's deal expires after the Port Vale home match on Monday.

Calaum Jahraldo-Martin is another player whose deal runs out, but he won't be staying at the club.

Robinson is not minded to discuss the futures of those players or any others right now, though.

The club remain under a transfer embargo that is expected to be lifted in conjunction with the window re-opening on Sunday.

Athletic sit bottom of Sky Bet League One but in terms of the points gap to the safety line, the situation is not critical.

Win at Fleetwood tomorrow and Robinson's side could even climb straight out of the bottom-four, depending on whether Chesterfield and Shrewsbury win their games tonight.

For Robinson, he wants his men to go out at Highbury exhibiting a similar attitude to that shown at Sheffield United ­- ideally, allied to a rediscovery of a finishing touch in front of goal.

'DIFFICULT'

"It will be a difficult game, but in that respect it is no different to any other fixture in this division," Robinson said.

"We have proved we are capable of going out there and battling hard and as Chris Wilder said after the Sheffield United game, it was like watching a different team at Bramall Lane.

"We have to do the same, but obviously add goals to the team as we keep saying."

On the subject of some of his players possibly facing uncertain futures, Robinson - who has experienced playing for clubs in administration at Luton and Bournemouth as a player - says it is important they simply carry on with the task in hand.

"I have been in a similar position as a player. But we are paying the players and so I fully expect them to be completely professional, as I am sure they will be," he said, on those out-of-contract and loan players who could leave the club after the weekend.

Athletic (probable, 4-4-2): Ripley; Wilson, Clarke, Dunne; Dummigan, Fane, Green, Flynn, McLaughlin; Osei, Mckay. Subs (from): Kettings, Law, Edmundson, Burgess, Reckord, Winchester, Banks, Klok, Croft, Erwin, Ladapo.