No easing up warns Penney

ATHLETIC boss Dave Penney has warned his players to guard against complacency after last night’s 2-1 victory against MK Dons lifted them to seventh in Coca-Cola League One.

It was Athletic’s third successive win and they have hoisted themselves out of the bottom four to the fringe of the promotion places within the space of an eventful 10 days.

However, Penney stressed that it is important not to slip up against Yeovil, who visit Boundary Park on Saturday.

He said: “It is easy raising your tempo against the likes of MK Dons or other teams at the top, but we have to make sure we do it against Yeovil and ensure it isn’t a case of after the Lord Mayor’s Show.

“We need to play at the same tempo and show the same enthusiasm and workrate.”

The manager thought last night’s victory was fully deserved, though he admitted they were holding on desperately at the end as Dons pressed for an equaliser.

The Athletic chief said: “It was a great result. We battled away and our work ethic and tempo from the first minute on was excellent.

“There was some great play and two great goals from Alan Sheehan and Keigan Parker.”
Penney has even more to smile about as the club’s injury crisis finally seems to be easing.

They had eight players ruled out last night, but midfielder Jon Worthington is back in training after overcoming an ankle injury which has kept him out of the last four matches.

On-loan striker Nick Blackman was also due to resume light training today after a foot injury ruled him out of three games.

Alex Marrow jarred his ankle last night but managed to complete the 90 minutes and Penney expects him to be available for the weekend.

Penney added that he is also hopeful of extending Sheehan’s loan for a second month as Leeds manager Simon Grayson raised no objections after the initial approach.