Gerrard fired up to silence cynics

STEADYING INFLUENCE . . . Anthony Gerrard.

ANTHONY Gerrard is a man on a mission – to get back into the Championship by answering his critics on the field.

The outspoken 30 year old has been superb since coming back to Athletic for a second season-saving spell. Never more commanding than in the 2-0 win over Swindon, the ex-Walsall man is preparing to line up against his old club on Saturday boasting an excellent record in the colours of John Sheridan's men.

In 18 games working under first Dean Holden and then Sheridan, the larger-than-life Scouser has won eight, drawn six and lost only three – and that after twice stepping into sides playing with deflated confidence and threatened with relegation.

With Athletic’s back line having achingly missed a leader since Adam Lockwood left in the summer, Gerrard has certainly been exactly what the doctor ordered for Sheridan.

A centre-back not afraid to dish it out – be it on social media, to his own team-mates or to quaking opposition forwards – the former Cardiff, Hull and Huddersfield man believes the fact he was without a club until joining Shrewsbury on non-contract terms in October was down to the rumour mill.

Gerrard believes seeds were planted in fans' minds at Huddersfield that he was a bad egg – and it cost him dearly in the last season of his three-year deal.

That came after his Cardiff stay ended under a cloud. His last kick for the Welsh club was in missing a penalty in the Carling Cup final shoot-out against Liverpool at Wembley in 2012.

“You can be can be made out to be a hero or a villain just by someone going onto fans’ forums and dropping a few lines,” said the defender, who was effectively banished under Chris Powell at Huddersfield last term despite playing 87 times in the previous two campaigns.

“It doesn’t faze me. I have had stick off Cardiff fans for missing a penalty when the best players in the world miss penalties. It doesn’t bother me.

“At Huddersfield, how can you go from playing two whole seasons to having one start? It doesn't take a genius to work out something is not right. The club need to make you out to be something you aren’t. I have even had people as high as chairman talking about me, which is a bit petty really when they are paying my wages and the club is sliding towards relegation.”

Gerrard says the sniping at his perceived attitude is in contrast to the experiences of his recent managers. And his promise not to change his ways will be music to the ears of Athletic fans, who relish watching a player so committed to the cause and a man Sheridan trusts implicitly.

“I am playing pretty well and no disrespect to this club or this league, it’s not where I want to be. I want to be higher. My issue was never footballing. It was that people see me as opinionated and that I will say what I want to say.”