New approach paying off for red-hot striker

Lee Erwin celebrates his goal at Peterborough

LEE Erwin never lost the determination to hit the goals trail for Athletic.

The on-loan Leeds striker has fired home five goals in his last seven outings for the club at the most opportune moment.

Athletic's woes in the opposition box are well-documented - the record is now a mere 29 strikes in 42 outings - but Erwin cites a change of emphasis from manager John Sheridan for the recent upturn in finding the net.

Under previous boss Stephen Robinson, Athletic netted 12 goals in 24 league outings.

With Sheridan at the helm, his mantra - "I like my strikers to play up front", meaning in central areas - has helped result in 17 goals in 18 outings.

"It is especially pleasing that it has happened at an important time as well, during the run-in to the end of the season," said Erwin of his recent purple patch, kicked off with a smart added-time winner as a substitute against Northampton in late February.

"It's personally satisfying, as I had not really been playing since the run of the year.

"If you look at the stats across the year, you would have naturally seen it as a poor return.

"But I hadn't always been playing as an out-and-out striker and was coming wide in games. It is good to get the chance to play down the middle under John Sheridan.

"In training I was hitting the net and I always believed that I would score goals, given the chance."

Athletic managed to move up a spot to 17th thanks to a win over Fleetwood that Erwin scored a terrific goal in.

POTENTIAL

It lifted the club above Bury - who host Rochdale tonight - but still only three points clear of fourth-bottom Port Vale, who have the potential benefit of a game in hand.

Erwin knows the battle is not yet over, but takes plenty of confidence from an impressive home record ahead of tests against Bolton and Rochdale to come at SportsDirect.com Park.

"It is very tight at the bottom, but three points from Fleetwood was massive," Erwin added. "It took us up to 17th and above Bury.

"First and foremost, we have simply go to look after ourselves now, We haven't been beaten at home since January and we have to take that form into the Bolton game.

"Sheffield United came here and couldn't take three points and Fleetwood are one of the top sides in the division but we beat them.

"We have to keep on doing what we have been doing and results will look after themselves."

Once his work with Athletic is done, Erwin will head back to Leeds where his future is unclear.

He has another year to run on his Elland Road deal, but at this stage is not contemplating anything at the moment other than making sure Athletic stay up.

"I am just focusing on staying safe," he said, when asked about going back to Leeds.

"I have not even thought about it.

"Every player just wants to play and I'm the same. Last year was not a particularly good one for myself or for Leeds and that's the reason why I went out on loan for the season.

"I needed a run of games to show what I can do."