Gerrard making all the right moves in survival mission

LEADER OF MEN . . . Anthony Gerrard has been a colossus at the heart of the Athletic defence, but reckons Matt Palmer (inset, winning the penalty at Peterborough) has made the biggest difference to the fortunes of the team in recent matches.

ANTHONY Gerrard was always going to have a major say in whether or not Athletic pull off what some are calling a ‘Shezurrection’.

Gerrard had been playing for the Shrews on non-contract terms up to a week earlier, but with no deal reached for a longer stay ended up as Sheridan’s first signing.

Helping Athletic to a clean sheet and a rare win in that meeting at Greenhous Meadow a month ago, the only setback since has been a knee injury incurred at Wigan. But Gerrard has been back for successive wins over Gillingham and Peterborough, aiming to make it three in a row at Scunthorpe tomorrow.

Since his debut, the gap to safety has shrunk from eight points to one.

Across the two seasons in which he has helped lead Athletic away from trouble‚ Gerrard’s record in the side has been remarkable - five wins, four draws and one defeat in his 10 games to date, including five clean sheets.

And though he jokes about a statue being built in his honour, he says another player has had more influence on the current run.

“Matt Palmer has been the best player by a million miles since I have been here,” Gerrard added. “He has a strong work ethic and won’t shirk a challenge.

“He got us the penalty at Peterborough and was running round with a cut lip the other day with blood all in his mouth. He didn’t bat an eyelid. That’s the kind of person we need and for me, it’s essential we keep him to the end of the season — not just to get out of this predicament, but to get us to mid-table.”

Gerrard argues the key to the revival is the minimising of individual errors.

“The lads were always in good spirits. It would have been different if we were getting slapped by four or five, but it was a case of cutting out the silly mistakes,” he added. “You can account for a large number of the draws to individual error.

“The defensive record is really good and it’s frightening a team with 14 league draws is near the bottom. Hopefully, we can turn it round, keep a solid base and carry on progressing.

“We are in a good moment and we have some good games coming up. Hopefully we can string a few more wins together and keep progressing.”