Manager discord in the season of good will

AT THE start of a new year, Athletic are faced with the problem of trying to climb out of the relegation zone in Sky Bet League One.

David Dunn’s side is five points adrift of safety, though has the the benefit of games in hand. We take a look at how Athletic’s fellow strugglers got on over the festive period.


Crewe (Shrewsbury (H) Lost 2-1; Coventry (H) Lost 5-0)

While Athletic had the better of the second half in a recent draw at the Sky Blues’ home, Crewe suffered a real thumping against Tony Mowbray’s men at the weekend to start the year off in the worst possible way.

“We have to stick together. They have got to show some fight and desire is a big word at the moment,” said Alex manager Steve Davis, ahead of an enforced break from the action on Saturday, because of the FA Cup, which could see the bottom side further cut adrift.



Colchester: (Southend (H) Lost 2-0; Gillingham (A) Lost 1-0; Athletic (A) Drew 1-1)

Kevin Keen picked up his first point at Athletic and was so happy with it he gave the waiting press a high-five each afterwards. After a run of nine straight losses, the U’s have at least started to steady their ship. They look forward to a home FA Cup tie against Championship strugglers Charlton on Saturday. Next up in the league on Saturday week is a tough home game against Sheffield United.



Blackpool: (Barnsley (A) Lost 4-2; Burton (A) Lost 1-0)

Matters turned a little ugly when up-and-down Blackpool — whose Boxing Day hosting of Athletic was called off — lost 1-0 at 10-man Burton at the weekend.

Fans turned on the side and manager Neil McDonald was left far from impressed: “Do the fans actually support the team away from home?” he asked afterwards in response to chants of “you’re not fit to wear the shirt” at the Pirelli Stadium.

A run of three wins that followed seven losses has now been all-but forgotten as gloom descends at Bloomfield Road.



Shrewsbury: (Fleetwood (H) Drew 1-1; Crewe (A) Won 2-1; Chesterfield (A) Lost 7-1)

After a pair of reasonable results against rivals at the bottom, few will have seen a thumping at Chesterfield on the horizon for the Shrews — least of all their manager Micky Mellon.

Former Athletic defender Anthony Gerrard went off injured after half an hour and the goals kept flowing, with two arriving after the red card given to Junior Brown after 80 minutes. It was the club’s heaviest loss for almost 52 years.



Fleetwood: (Shrewsbury (A) Drew 1-1; Wigan (H) Lost 3-1; Bury (H) Won 2-0)

One of the few happy men in the lowly bunching, Fleetwood boss Steven Pressley was fulsome in praise for his men after they saw off Bury — whose less-than-delighted manager David Flitcroft promised changes after the Shakers fell further from the play-offs pace.

“I’m delighted for the players because I’ve been saying for a long time that I don’t think they can give any more than they’ve been giving,” Pressley said.

The Cod Army have now lost only one of their last five outings to rise out of the relegation zone and also have the boost of continued involvement in the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy. Fleetwood are at Barnsley on Saturday in the first leg of their Northern area final.