Gritty Latics get the job done

SO CLOSE . . . Jonathan Forte sees his effort slip agonisingly wide of the upright. Pictures by ALAN HOWARTH

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Athletic 1, Walsall 0

WHAT was it, exactly, that was missing before?

That is the question when watching an Athletic team that managed to beat Walsall even when distinctly under-par for at least half of the game. It was ugly at times but in the second half, John Sheridan’s team showed they are made of sterner stuff than many outsiders expect.

Curtis Main’s goal made all the difference in a contest against a Saddlers side comfortably the superior in an opening period in which dominant, elegant midfield man Romaine Sawyers ran the show.

After the goal came, after 63 minutes — and it was an effort that summed up chest-out, newly confident Athletic — there was only one real scare. Business was simply got on with once again. By the time the final whistle had been greeted by an ecstatic response from the home support, a check of the league table showed that Athletic had climbed to 18th.

That’s well out of the relegation zone, for the first time since then-boss David Dunn saw his side slump to a 2-1 home loss to Barnsley in November. The upturn in results since the dark days of Athletic’s brutal winter is astonishing. Only Wigan and Bradford are better off in the form table.

This was a fourth home win in five fixtures, all featuring clean sheets. Before Sheridan came back in, with his back-to-basics approach and canny knowledge of unappreciated gems within the lower

divisions, Athletic had won once at home all season.

Anthony Gerrard has made a difference. Here, against his old club, he offered vital but not always welcome advice to team-mates and put his body in harm’s way when needed. His influence in helping shut out teams — his record on that score over two seasons for Athletic is nine clean sheets in 18 appearances — is blatant.

Others have stepped up too. James Wilson suffered a blow to the head in heading a ball clear in the first half and later threw himself in front of the ball to make a block to preserve the hosts’ precious lead. A player whose appetite has been questioned this term is shoving it to the doubters.

Add wily midfield schemer Matt Palmer to Gerrard, the unfortunately injured Aaron Amadi-Holloway and current scoring sensation Main and it’s clear Sheridan has had massive — possibly historic — success in the short-term deal and loan markets.

Sheridan’s chosen assistant Peter Shirtliff, a former centre-back of the rugged variety, must surely be having an influence in defensive preparations on the training ground, too.

Touch wood, it all appears to be adding up to another season of safety. That’s quite something given the eight-point chasm that had appeared before the great revival began at Shrewsbury.

Sheridan, who named an unchanged line-up from that which had seen Swindon off 2-0, was animated in the first 45 minutes. Mike Jones had a tough half and he was on the end of one audible burst of strong encouragement.

Walsall were in control as the home side appeared jaded and could have scored to assist their promotion ambitions. Jordy Hiwula, formerly of Manchester City’s academy, played a lovely one-two with Sawyers and raced into the area before the alert Joel Coleman came out to block very well. The goalkeeper also had to be careful when palming the ball away from the feet of the well-marshalled Tom Bradhsaw soon after.

Smart work down the left from Tareiq Holmes-Dennis led to Athletic’s first chance, which saw Main whip one narrowly wide with his left foot on the penalty spot.

Ex-Athletic loan man Sam Manton hammered a swerving shot at goal from 20 yards out which Coleman did well to adjust, mid-dive, and palm over the top.

Sheridan’s side settled down after the interval and gradually established themselves in the

ascendancy. The excellent Wilson couldn’t quite get on the end of a Palmer free-kick.

The goal came out of the blue. Forte spotted his chance to nudge Matthew Pennington off the ball legally and drove towards the area with purpose. His cut-back pass for Main appeared to lack a

modicum of pace, but as defenders descended, the on-loan Doncaster striker made no mistake.

Jones fired one narrowly wide from 25 yards as Athletic strove for a second and from there on in, Walsall tried every trick and formation switch in the book without success.

A side with the best away record in League One posed no question Athletic couldn’t answer, save for a ricochet that fell kindly for Hiwula. His wild effort from inside the area flew a long way over the top and summed up the difference on the day.

Sheridan’s side is confident, mean and clinical where Athletic had been frail, benevolent and wasteful. There’s a way to go yet to securing safety, but long may it continue.