Robinson hails performance in fightback draw

GET IN . . . Peter Clarke (No. 26) gets a hug from manager Stephen Robinson after scoring Athletic's equaliser against Charlton at The Valley last night

ATHLETIC manager Stephen Robinson was proud of the way his side responded to adversity to take a useful point at Charlton.

Following on from the poor effort in losing to Swindon, Athletic found themselves behind at The Valley to a Josh Magennis strike but even after missing good chances to level made their superiority count for at least a point thanks to Peter Clarke's 83rd-minute header.

The hosts later hit a post through Ademola Lookman but Robinson felt his men more than matched the hosts - and now, he wants to back it up with a home win over MK Dons on Saturday in front of the home supporters.

"Even after we scored the equaliser we pushed to win it," said Robinson, whose side slipped to 23rd in the table by way of Southend's 2-1 defeat of Oxford. "We were extremely positive and it wasn't as if we sat back.

'COMPARED'
"It was the difference of night and day compared to Saturday when we were all so disappointed at the performance levels.

"Here, they bounced back and the only disappointment was that it wasn't three points.

"The reaction proved we have a very good bunch of players."

Six changes were made to the line-up and with more thrust in various positions, Robinson was pleased with those men who stepped in.

"The performance was terrific with the football we played," he said. "I was able to put a little bit more pace into the team which we have waited for in the past few weeks, with Jamie Reckord, Cameron Dummigan and Ousmane Fane back in there to shore things up.

"Ousmane, Paul Green and Dummigan were outstanding. We passed the ball about really well.

"I didn't recognise the team on Saturday (against Swindon) but we are trying to evolve into a team that plays more and we did that.

"The little break has probably done Ousmane good if I am being honest and it was also Ryan Flynn's best performance since he came to the club, so to a man we were better than them and controlled the game for large, large parts."

Freddie Ladapo had Athletic's best chances before defender Clarke's intervention but Robinson feels his group of strikers will soon start to find the net and improve a goals record of five in 10 Sky Bet League One outings.

"I have told Freddie, keep getting in there and it will turn for you as it will for Billy Mckay and Lee Erwin," he added.

"Lee hit three or four shots and hits them too well at times. He needs them to bobble off someone's foot or backside which would be lovely.

"It will come if they keep doing that. We are very good at set plays and we work on them and know their importance.

"The boys that came out of the team now have to fight to get back in it, just as those who have had to wait for their chance to get their fitness levels up.

"We will continue to build on that. We don't want to waste a point here and let ourselves down at home.

"We have something to prove to the fans, that we are a good team and one that can climb the table."

Last night's Sky Bet League One results ­-

Bradford 2, Fleetwood 1; Charlton 1, ATHLETIC 1; Chesterfield , Gillingham 3; MK Dons 1, Bury 3; Port Vale 3, Millwall 1; Rochdale 1, Bolton 0; Sheffield United 1, Bristol Rovers 0; Shrewsbury 1, Peterborough 1; Southend 2, Oxford United 1; Swindon 1, Northampton 3, Walsall 1, Scunthorpe 4.