Feet on the ground

Jonathan Forte

JOHN Sheridan shrugged off the adulation after his superb rescue act reached its conclusion with two games left to spare in the season.

Athletic defeated Crewe 1-0 thanks to a Jonathan Forte goal, taking the club to 54 points for the season and finally putting them out of reach of the sides in the bottom four.

A ninth victory in 20 outings for Sheridan since he returned for a second spell as permanent manager, it was watched by an impressive crowd of 4,571, which included only 98 from Crewe.

That is the second-biggest home contingent of the season, behind derby-day against Rochdale.

The manager was full of praise for both his players and the fans, but the 51-year-old refused to get carried away with his success.

“I am a manager, who came in to win games and hopefully keep us in the division. I think I have just done my job,” said Sheridan, whose side are now 17th and eight points clear of Blackpool. The Seasiders occupy the final relegation spot after a 0-0 draw at Fleetwood.

“I like being praised, don’t get me wrong, but it is not for me to praise myself.

praise

“I praise the players, as they are the ones who have to go out on the pitch and after a difficult first half of the season have dug in deep.

“When we have had to win ugly, we have done so and especially away from home, we have played good football and won games.”

New father Forte’s third goal of the season secured a win that was hard-fought against a bright Crewe side.

The scorer is one of a host of players out of contract this summer and with a trip to Millwall on Saturday followed by a home test against Coventry on the season’s final day, Sheridan hinted he will give an opportunity to players who have not featured much.

“We got the goal and once we scored, we are decent at grinding out the result that we are after,” the manager added.

“It was a good finish and I am pleased Jonathan Forte scored, after his wife had a son on Wednesday night.

“It is a relief that we finally know we are in this league.

“I am pleased for the supporters who got right behind the team. Togetherness got us over the line and it's a weight off everyone’s shoulders.

“Now I have got to focus on next season and try to get us competing at the other end of the table, if I can.

“There are two games still to go and it is a good test for us at Millwall against a good team. Coventry are a good team as well who are underachieving in my eyes.

“They are two good games to test us. It might enable me to give one or two players a bit of game-time, but I want to get a winning mentality.

“Sometimes, even if you are not playing well you can be winning and that is what a lot of successful teams do.”

o ATHLETIC’S under-18s are in action tomorrow night at SportsDirect.com Park, taking on Blackpool in the final of the Lancashire FA Youth Cup.

The game starts at 7pm and admission prices are £5 adults and £3 concessions.