Latics looking to turn the tide

ATHLETIC boss Stephen Robinson says his side should be bottom following a summer of upheaval

ATHLETIC should by rights be BOTTOM of Sky Bet League One right now, according to their own manager.

Stephen Robinson says that the extent of the late summer squad-building from scratch, at a time when every rival had already made moves in the player market, dictates that Athletic are ahead of where they could reasonably expect to be ahead of the Charlton test tonight (7.45pm kick-off).

But the boss's message is a positive one. He reckons that one quick win - ideally at The Valley tonight - will help turn upside down the gloomy outlook emanating after a poor show at home against Swindon.

"Saturday was the only time the players have let themselves and us down," said Robinson, who travelled south with his squad for an overnight stay yesterday.

"So to say we are a team that's not far away one week and an awful one the next is not realistic.

"The league speaks volumes to where we are but in reality, we should be bottom.

"We were two or three weeks behind everyone in terms of signing players, so others get the first crack at who to bring in. That's the reality.

'OUTLOOK'

"We should be bottom but we are not and we won't be. We are three points away from being able to build something.

"But let's not dress it up - we do need a win that changes the outlook."

Four goals in nine league games have prompted some to describe Athletic as a negative side.

Robinson counters that he regularly plays with more than one striker, constantly working on improving the record in training.

"It has been highlighted, our lack of goals," Robinson added. "We have got it right at one end of the pitch and while people may believe we have set out to be defensive, that's not the case at all.

"We have played with two strikers in almost every game and at times we have had four up front.

"We have done forward play and finishing almost every single day for the last month and we really haven't spent a lot of time on defensive work. It's a structure we have put in place and we work on it on a Friday. On every other day, it's attacking.

"It hasn't quite happened but you look at Saturday and Peter Clarke missed with a chance from three yards out which he was devastated about after the game.

"Then the game turns on its head, which is what is happening at the moment. But we are creating those chances and not scoring goals.

"Paul Green and Lee Erwin had chances and people are snatching a little bit.

"But we keep getting into those areas of the pitch, keep working hard and things can change very quickly in football."

Only Calaum Jahraldo-Martin is not quite considered ready to be thrown in to the fray right now and Ryan McLaughlin, Cameron Dummigan and Jamie Reckord are all pressing for starts tonight.

"Ryan is now at a stage where we might be able to throw him in. Cameron Dummigan came from Burnley not match-ready and admitted that himself," the manager said.

"Jamie Reckord has been injured as well and you look at those three and that's a lot of pace in the team and forward thinking energy.

"We are well aware what we need to do and those players add another dimension to it."

Athletic (probable, 4-4-2): Ripley; Dummigan, Clarke, Burgess, Reckord; McLaughlin, Green, Fane, Flynn; Erwin, Ladapo.

Subs (from): Kettings, Law, Wilson, Dunne, Klok, Banks, Winchester, Croft, Osei, Mckay.

TONIGHT'S Sky Bet League One fixtures ­-

Bradford v Fleetwood; Charlton v ATHLETIC; Chesterfield v Gillingham; MK Dons v Bury; Port Vale v Millwall; Rochdale v Bolton; Sheffield United v Bristol Rovers; Shrewsbury Town v Peterborough; Southend v Oxford; Swindon v Northampton; Walsall v Scunthorpe.

Tomorrow: Coventry v Wimbledon.