Show me your bottle, says boss

REUBEN REID . . . . may be in the starting line-up.

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TAKE a leaf out of my book, Athletic boss Paul Dickov has told his struggling players.

Athletic have the chance to arrest a worrying run of four straight defeats by gaining a positive result at Hartlepool tonight (7.45pm).

Performances have not been especially bad in that sequence.

Dickov is stressing the need for a positive mindset.

"I had a career of 21 years where people doubted me all the time. Too small, not quick enough, couldn't score goals . . .

"I had the determination to go out and prove people wrong. I want to instil that in my players. Now is a test for us all. “

Morais is absent tonight following his car crash on Saturday morning. It means a likely switch to a wide role for Harry Bunn, with Reuben Reid taking the reins as Shefki Kuqi's strike partner.

Reece Brown is the most likely replacement for Tarkowski in the heart of defence, with David Mellor reverting to left-back.


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