Dunn demands mean streak

David Dunn . . . “It’s like putting a plaster on a broken leg at times.”

UNDER FIRE Athletic manager David Dunn says his players must start showing a nasty streak if they are to haul themselves away from trouble in Sky Bet League One.

Athletic remain in the drop zone after a dismal 1-0 defeat by a Crewe side that had been propping up the table going into the game. The visitors created precious few chances and slid alarmingly to a third defeat in a week thanks to Adam King’s first half goal.

Dunn now needs his squad to step up to the plate before it’s too late.

“Let’s be fair; this is not the last couple of weeks’ doing. It’s been going on for the last 12 months.

“The lads are really lacking in confidence, and when we got those back-to-back wins recently I thought that would kick us on again.

“We’re just papering over the cracks though, aren’t we? It’s like putting a plaster on a broken leg at times — that’s how I feel. We can motivate the players and do all we can, but when they go over that white line it’s up to them to roll up their sleeves and put in a strong performance.”

“I have to be careful what I say, because I need these players now, and do I think there's any bad lads in there? No, I don’t at all. Maybe that’s the problem.

“I've played with people who are nasty in the dressing room and as much as you might not like them on the pitch, they turn up on a Saturday. We’ve got nice lads who perhaps like the idea of being a footballer, but maybe don’t know what it really takes.

“They’ll coast through League One, and maybe next year they’ll be in League Two. Before you know it you’re out of the game.”

That is a stark warning for some of Athletic’s recent underachievers, several of whom are set to find themselves out of the team for the FA Cup second round tie at Sheffield United on Saturday.

Frustrated Dunn added: “Maybe I’ve tried to protect people long enough now. There will be changes next week, that’s for sure.”