GO FOR IT!

HOME COMFORT . . . John Sheridan has only lost once in 11 games at SportsDirect.com Park since his return

ATHLETIC have been urged to go for the jugular against Rochdale to make sure the relegation fight does not go down to the last day of the season.

John Sheridan's side have won three out of the last four at home and have only lost once in 11 outings since the manager's return to the club.

Dale still have an outside chance of getting into the top-six and head to SportsDirect.com Park on Saturday knowing that nothing but a win will do in order to keep those ambitions rolling until their 46th fixture of the campaign at home to Bradford.

Last night's only game in Sky Bet League One saw Athletic's rivals near the bottom, Bury, gain a useful 0-0 draw at a Bolton side who are wavering in the second automatic promotion place as the finishing line approaches.

Lee Clark's Bury will now have to win both their remaining games - at home to Northampton on Saturday and at play-off chasing Southend on the final day - in order to overhaul Athletic's current 51-point tally.

While the chances of each of Port Vale, Bury, Shrewsbury and Gillingham all overtaking Athletic at this stage seemingly remote, Sheridan wants to leave nothing to chance.

COMPETING

A point against Keith Hill's side will definitely see Athletic competing again in League One in 2017-18, provided Vale lose at home to Bolton or Bury do not beat the Cobblers at Gigg Lane.

"We still have to make sure - and I want to win the Rochdale game, just as I want to win every game," said Sheridan, who was left disappointed by his team's inability at Bristol Rovers to back up the blood-and-thunder on show in the 1-0 defeat of Bolton on Saturday.

"I wanted to win at Bristol Rovers, but it wasn't to be. While we have to pick up points to make sure we stay in the division, we go into the Rochdale game which is a good one and a derby.

"They are a good team with good players. They have had a tremendous season and are still in with a chance of the play-offs.

"We look after ourselves. Our home form has been very good and it has got us to where we are now.

"Hopefully, we can win the last one at home."

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