Erwin double is just the job

1, 2, 3 - AND IN . . . Lee Erwin finishes off, and then celebrates his crucial winning goal in style

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TUESDAY nights are alright for Lee Erwin and Athletic, whose fighting spirit helped further bolster the chances of ending the season outside the relegation zone once again.

The on-loan Leeds striker's Athletic career seemed as dead and buried as the team's chances of staying up not long ago.

In only his third start under John Sheridan, though, he produced a pair of headers that ultimately increased the gap between Athletic and Port Vale - the nearest rivals underneath the black line that separates the bottom-four from the rest - to a cushy five points.

Looking back, only one of Erwin's five goals before this revitalising night's work from Sheridan's charges had come on a Saturday afternoon, in a losing cause at home against Shrewsbury.

His penchant for a midweek game matches that of Athletic as a collective. Up against a strong Oxford side seeking a club-record sixth straight away-day success, the hosts at SportsDirect.com Park were in no mood to roll over.

Arriving first in the 36th minute and then in the 70th, 10 minutes after Chris Maguire had levelled from the penalty spot, Erwin's double helped make it five wins, three draws and one defeat (late on at MK Dons) in Tuesday evening Sky Bet League One clashes this season.

Athletic were fully worthy of this one, too.

For Oxford, Kane Hemmings fluffed his lines badly in the first half, Connor Ripley had to make a sharp save from Conor McAleny in a frantic opening and Maguire always looked a threat.

Athletic also came under pressure at the end. But Aaron Amadi-Holloway, who battled away gamely all night, failed with two very presentable shooting chances early in the match and Sheridan's side could easily have had the game in the bag before the penalty.

This was a very good effort, epitomised by the industry of the outstanding Paul Green in midfield.

In his hunt for goals - in the last five outings, only in the win at Northampton have Athletic beaten an opposition goalkeeper - Sheridan shuffled his pack.

Brian Wilson returned from suspension to play at right-back and Rob Hunt's recovery from a strained hamstring saw him start on the opposite side of the field, with Jamie Reckord dropped entirely.

Ryan McLaughlin was pushed up to a right-wing spot and with Aiden O'Neill missing out along with Tope Obadeyi, Erwin returned in a front-two pairing with Amadi-Holloway.

Oxford had never previously won at what-was Boundary Park and Athletic began the game on the front foot.

Chris Taylor was on form early on and it was his through ball that led to a great opportunity after only one minute and 45 seconds had elapsed. Slipping Amadi-Holloway down the right side of the area and in on goal, a low right-footed shot lacked for conviction and Simon Eastwood was able to block it fairly easily.

Peter Clarke then went close in the seventh minute, winning the initial header from an Ollie Banks corner before a spot of pinball saw the ball fall on his left foot eight yards out. His snap-shot was directed wide of goal and Athletic had spurned a second early chance.

A third chance arrived in the 14th minute. Again it was Taylor who applied a telling through ball and McLaughlin elected to take it first-time on the right side of the penalty area. He could have taken a touch, but on a difficult surface made life tough for Eastwood at least as the goalkeeper died on top of an angled drive back across goal.

Oxford were dangerous themselves. McAleny skipped past Clarke on the left and Connor Ripley had to sprawl to his right to push out a drive from 10 yards.

DANGEROUS

Clarke had to clear a dangerous Hall centre moments late, while Kane Hemmings could not believe he did not open the scoring after 18 minutes. The timing of the run was perfection and Hall's delivery from the right was of the same quality, but the volley from three yards out was struck wide - much to Athletic's relief.

All of that was inside the first 18 minutes. Athletic settled after that, though, with Amadi-Holloway to the fore. His link play with Taylor was delightful and as he tricked past the last man on the left, only an excellent block by Eastwood of a left-footed drive intended for the bottom corner prevented Athletic from netting.

Six minutes later, Sheridan's side had their breakthrough. Amadi-Holloway was found by Erwin on the right and after twisting and turning to befuddle marker Chey Dunkley, the former Fleetwood man crashed a powerful drive off the underside of the crossbar.

Without goalline technology, the officials may have been secretly pleased that with the ball possibly having bounced over the line, Erwin made any debate academic by leaping to head in the rebound from six yards out.

Maguire volleyed powerfully over and McAleny only warmed the palms of Ripley when trying to pick his spot and Oxford's attacks, for all the neat build-up, lacked pep.

Then came the penalty, out of the blue. Athletic gave up possessions cheaply and simply couldn't clear their lines. Eventually a false touch from Josh Law saw the ball break loose across the box and though Maguire initially went away from goal, Ripley was attracted across and affected a trip. It was a clear spot-kick and the 14-goal striker sent the goalkeeper the wrong way with his penalty.

Athletic bounced back and pressed for a second. They got it when McLaughlin's superb ball from a central position swung right into the path of Erwin, who carefully measure a header back across goal and inside the far post. There were few real scares after that, even though Athletic were perched on the back foot against a very able side.

IN A NUTSHELL: More of the same will still be needed, but this was a huge win.