Danny sounds a rallying call

DANNY WHITAKER: Plea for support.

DANNY WHITAKER has made a plea to the Athletic fans to get behind the team in Saturday’s important home Coca-Cola League One game against Northampton Town.

The midfield player’s rallying call came in the wake of the boos and jeers which greeted the goalless draw against Swindon Town in their last match at Boundary Park.

Whitaker said: “We are in a decent position in the league so the booing was a surprise. It is something you would have expected if we been down at the bottom.

“We need the fans to stick with us and get behind us from the off on Saturday and, if we can get an early goal, that should set us up nicely.”

Whitaker believes Athletic, who occupy a top-six play-off place, are paying the price for being one of the top teams in the division.

He explained: “Obviously Swindon had watched us and knew were were a big threat going forward.

“For the majority of the game they were happy to sit back and soak up the pressure and let us play in front of them.

“The key is getting an early goal which forces teams to come out and play a more open game - as happened against Stockport.

“The longer it goes on without a goal, the happier they are to sit back which makes it more difficult for us.”

Whitaker envisages a similar game of cat and mouse against Northampton.

“They will probably have watched us against Swindon and seen how they played and they could adopt the same tactics,” he said.

Whitaker added that after the electrifying atmosphere of the local derby against Stockport, it was an altogether different scenario against Swindon.

“After the buzz against Stockport it was a strange atmosphere and it was dead from the kick-off,” he reflected.

ATHLETIC’S work in the community has been recognised as the club has been short-listed for a prize at next month’s fourth Football League Awards.

They are one of five clubs in line for the community club of the year for League One.

The showpiece event for the 72 Football League clubs takes place on Sunday, March 29 at the Grosvenor House Hotel, Park Lane, London.