Plenty of work ahead for boss

LOOKING FOR AN OPENING . . . Dutch midfield man Marc Klok made his SportsDirect.com Park bow

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ATHLETIC 0, HUDDERSFIELD 2

AFTER only one full week in charge, Stephen Robinson took charge of an Athletic team for the first time in this pre-season clash with Huddersfield.

The visitors from the Championship ran out as 2-0 winners, thanks to late goals from Harry Bunn and Jack Payne.

By that stage, Robinson - in the home technical area along with assistant Ian Baraclough, with Sean O'Driscoll watching from the Main Stand - had rung the changes.

An inexperienced side on the field at the final whistle showed that there is work ahead still in boosting the squad with experience.

GLANCE

But while the West Yorkshire side had most of the possession and looked sharper for their extra time spent on the training pitch to date this summer, Athletic fans at least had a chance to take a first glance at the new-look squad.

Robinson set the team up in a 3-5-2 formation and the only two players to stay on throughout were the centre-back pairing of George Edmundson and first-year professional Jamie Stott.

Lee Croft played as a trialist in the second half, as did released West Brom midfield man Samir Nabi (19).

Here, we take a look at how the nine new boys and trialists got on ­-

Connor Ripley: Made one error when kicking in the first half but recovered to smother Rekeil Pyke's effort. Otherwise, the loan man from Middlesbrough had little to do.

Josh Law: The wing-back went closest for Athletic, hitting a 20-yard free-kick that forced Joel Coleman to dive and tip the ball over in the first half. Linked up well down the right with Ryan Flynn.

Jamie Reckord: Got forward when he could down the left and looks a compact, steady player in the role he played as wing-back. He was positive, looking to cross when he could.

Ryan Flynn: The ex-Sheffield United man showed glimpses of his ability and clever movement, playing as one of the central three midfielders.

Marc Klok: The Dutch midfield man showed he likes a tackle and even this early in pre-season, he appears to have a good engine as he roared up and down the pitch.

Lee Erwin: Looked short of fitness, understandably, on a day when it didn't quite happen for the on-loan Leeds forward. Tall and powerful, he looks a good foil for Billy Mckay.

Billy Mckay: The sharpest of the new men on show for Athletic, the on-loan Wigan striker hustled opponents and almost created a goal for Lee Croft with a neat inside ball in the second half.

Chris Kettings: Came on for Ripley at half-time and after one error in misjudging the flight of a corner, responded immediately with an excellent save to tip over from Jon Gorenc Stankovic's close-range header.

Samir Nabi: A powerfully built midfielder, he is trying to win a deal at Athletic. Bumped away one opponent with ease but was a little lax with his control at times.

Lee Croft: Looked like a man on a mission, to impress the manager. Worked hard down the right flank and was encouraged by the home fans along the way.

Luke Woodland: Was fairly impressive in his last loan spell at the club and having arrived back on a permanent basis, the ex-Bolton midfield man kept things ticking over in midfield.

Athletic: Ripley (Kettings 46); Wilson (Knight 85), Edmundson, Stott; Law (Mantack 61), Flynn (Nabi 46), Klok (Woodland 61), Winchester (Croft 46), Reckord (Brown 67); Erwin (Cassidy 61), Mckay (Byrnes 87).

Huddersfield: Coleman; Smith (Hogg 46), Hefele (Schindler 60), Stankovic (Cranie 60), Davidson (Williams 60); Scannell (Van la Parra 60), Mooy (Whitehead 60), Billing (Payne 60), Dempsey (Lowe 60), Lolley (Bunn 46); Pyke (Kachunga 60). Subs not used: Coddington, Booty.

Goals: Bunn 72, Payne 90.

Attendance: 2,163 (814).

Referee: Peter Bankes.