Latics look to stifle Saints

PAUL BLACK . . . the defender returned to the starting XI against Swindon.

PAUL Black reckons it is vital that Athletic don’t give Southampton any room tonight.

The attacking talent of the visitors to Boundary Park is well-documented, with players like Rickie Lambert, Adam Lallana and new £10million-rated teenage sensation Alex Chamberlain helping propel Nigel Adkins’ side to the top three of npower League One.

A stuttering start to the season is long-forgotten for ambitious Saints, who saw off Premier League outfit Blackpool 2-0 in the FA Cup third round on Saturday despite making no less than EIGHT changes to their starting line-up.

The visitors are likely to recall their big guns tonight.

But Black — back in the Athletic side for the 2-0 Swindon victory after being dropped for the Rochdale derby — believes that if Athletic can marry their own talent with the enthusiasm of the kind shown in the 1-0 home win over another of the division’s big-spenders Huddersfield Town, then a second successive three points could be on the cards.

“I just want to play football and hopefully I can stay in the team now and help pick up a few more results, starting with Southampton,” said the 20-year-old.

“Southampton are doing well at the moment and they are a strong team, but Oldham is a tough place to come to.

“We get in the faces of teams — that is our game — and hopefully it can help us get a result.”

Athletic would move into the top six with a win tonight, but to do so will need to perform better than in the 2-1 defeat at St Mary’s earlier this season.

“We weren’t at the races down there, but you have those games,” Black added.

“We have only been beaten once at home this season and all the lads want to put that loss down there behind them.”

Southampton boss Adkins is expected to freshen things up tonight with Jose Fonte, Richard Chaplow and Chamberlain all set for a recall.