Clarke: We owed it to the manager and fans

Photo: Alan Howarth

PETER Clarke conducts his post-match interview.

ATHLETIC'S first goal in a touch over six hours of football was one for the manager.

That's the summing-up given to his late Charlton equaliser by Peter Clarke, after the 34-year-old skipper became the club's outright leading scorer in the league by heading home his second of the season.

The former Bury and Huddersfield captain felt that defeat at home to Swindon did not represent the ethic of boss Stephen Robinson but that the side showed its worth in getting back to what they are about at The Valley - albeit, minus the vital scoring touch before his own late intervention.

And in celebrating his goal, he raced to the dug-out to share the moment with Robinson and his staff.

"The manager brought the vast majority of us to the club and we owed him and the fans a performance," said Clarke.

'STANDARD'
"Saturday wasn't recognisable as an Oldham Athletic team or one that Stephen Robinson has put together.

"We certainly owed it to the manager and fans. We set the standard earlier in the season and have brought it back up to where they should be."

Clarke has had other opportunities to add to the far-post header he managed in the draw at Bradford, notably with a close-range attempt in the Swindon loss.

His career tally to date is highly respectable, though, with the defender racking up 45 goals.

"I have not done too badly over the course of time," he said. "Not too bad for a centre-back."

Now, Clarke wants the team to push on in a similar vein against MK Dons on Saturday in order to give the home support not among the 185 at Charlton something to shout about, as the club hunt down a first home league victory.

'CHANCE'

"I should have scored against Swindon in all honesty, with the chance I had then," Clarke added.

"But it was nice to get on the end of it and to come out with a point at Charlton, although I believe we should have had three.

"The fans were great at Charlton and all credit to those that travelled a long way on a Tuesday night. We thank them very much for their efforts and support.

"Now we are back with a home game and we want to make these games very difficult for the opposition.

"We want it to be a place where teams don't want to come and play, where they know they will have to be at their best to come away with anything.

"We want to take the performance and tempo we played at into MK Dons and make sure we give a similar performance.

"If we play as we did at Charlton then in all honesty, the result should take care of itself.

"It's all well and good saying it, but we have to perform."