Boss Kelly reacts to Forte’s ban blow

seeing red: Athletic striker Jonathan Forte gets his marching orders from referee Andy Haines. PICTURE by ALAN HOWARTH.

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JONATHAN Forte’s absence from the action until the end of the month has been described as a “big blow” by Athletic manager Darren Kelly.

Last season’s 15-goal top scorer will miss the club’s next three games through suspension, following his sending-off for violent conduct in the Bradford defeat which represented the club’s first Sky Bet League One loss of the campaign.

It means that unless a replacement is signed, Kelly will probably rely on Rhys Murphy, Rhys Turner and the returning loan striker Simonas Stankevicius to provide a goal threat in the meantime.

“It is a big blow,” said Kelly of Forte’s three-week ban, which takes in Saturday’s home clash with manager-less Peterborough, an away fixture at Doncaster a week later and the home derby with Wigan.

“You see the quality Jonathan has and he has proven that over the years. He is a big loss.

“But you have to move on and nothing stands still. It is what it is.

“It is up to players to come in and stake a claim.

“Jonathan going out is a chance for someone to put a foothold for a place, working hard and scoring goals.”

Of the above trio, only Turner (three) has goals at League One level to his credit in his career to date, though he is yet to score this term.

The return to the club of Leicester target man Stankevicius — he is in action for Lithuania’s under-21s in Serbia tomorrow night, having played for 90 minutes in a 3-0 loss in Slovenia on Friday — means he will probably start this weekend.

If Athletic opt to pit him in with a strike partner in a bid to improve a home goals record of four in as many games in 2015-16, other options include Danny Philliskirk being promoted upfield from his deep-lying midfield role, or banished forward Dominic Poleon coming back into the fold.

“We will look at things and see who is available,” Kelly said, when asked if Poleon, left out due to a lack of professional standards for the past two matches, will be in contention for Peterborough.

Kelly, who did not see the incident which led to Forte’s 33rd-minute red card, said he understands the frustrations of fans, a small section of whom stayed behind after the game for a public discussion with director Barry Owen.

“Supporters pay their money and like everyone in life have a right to their opinion,” added Kelly, whose side have dropped to 13th in the table.

“Nobody will hurt more than me in terms of the result, but in life you have got to move on.”