Keep the faith, insists Dickov

PAUL Dickov believes the good times are just around the corner for Athletic.

The first successive defeats of the season coincided with a return to action in 2011 following an enforced five-week break due to adverse weather conditions.

In both defeats, away at Hartlepool and at home to Rochdale two days later, Athletic had good moments but succumbed to defensive disasters.

Six sides now separate Athletic from the division's play-off spots.

But the gap isn't a daunting one for the Athletic boss, who says his side aren't far away from producing good results.

"I knew at the start of the season that there would be a period in the year when we would lose games," said Dickov, ahead of tomorrow's rearranged home match against Swindon Town.

"I remember talking to Nigel Pearson at Leicester last year when they were around the play-offs and then lost three on the bounce.

"The conversation I had with him was about not panicking — and they went and won their next four to cement their place in the top six.

"Every team in the world will lose back-to-back games. It is about how you react and I know I will get the right reaction out of the players.

"If anything, the performances haven't been that bad.

"We are big on statistics and in the Hartlepool and Rochdale games the opposition teams had seven shots on target and scored six times.

"We had 30 shots at goal and scored three.

"We need a bit of fine tuning at both ends, but we are not in a bad position.

"If we can win tomorrow, which I believe we will, then we are right back up there again."

Dickov is in no doubt as to where the main danger will lie when it comes to facing last year's play-off final losers.

Former bricklayer Charlie Austin has plundered 17 goals already this term.

His form alone ensures that even though the Robins are lying in 18th place in npower League One, they are a side to be respected.

Added Dickov: "We have had them watched a lot and they have a striker who at the moment is one of the hottest in the country.

"He (Austin) is a fantastic player who will score goals at any level. I have seen a lot of him and he will be a threat. I just hope he gets sold before the game!

"Swindon are a very good team with a lot of good players, but without being arrogant if we play as we can and cut out mistakes then we won't be too far away from getting a result.

"Danny Wilson (Swindon’s boss) had a fantastic career as a player and a manager and it will be a good test for me.

"I can speak to Danny and (his assistant) Peter Shirtliff, who I was with at Leicester, before and after the game and pick their brains."

Dickov also explained the bold decision to send Neal Trotman up front on Monday afternoon.

With Rochdale only playing, at most, one out-and-out striker the manager felt that moving an unoccupied centre-half forward could aid Athletic's quest to get back into the game.

And Trotman responded with the nod down which led to Dean Furman's clinical volley halving the deficit.

"We have done it before with Jean-Yves (Mvoto) and it has been effective. I thought it worked to a certain extent with Neal," said Dickov. "He caused a lot of panic up there.

"You have to give Rochdale credit. They chucked everything in front of us, but I did feel we didn't get the rub of the green that we deserved."