Wellens gears up for Dale derby crunch

The ‘cup finals’ are coming thick and fast for Athletic manager Richie Wellens, with fierce Sky Bet League One rivals Rochdale next up tomorrow night at the Crown Oil Arena.

Athletic will be roared on by almost 3,000 travelling fans tomorrow for a genuine ‘six-pointer’.

Gillingham’s controversial last-gasp penalty equaliser at Boundary Park on Saturday means Athletic can be dumped back in the drop zone with defeat at the hands of the hosts tomorrow.

That would really crank up the pressure ahead of Saturday’s next trip to another relegation-haunted side, Wimbledon.

Despite the huge significance pinned on tomorrow’s game, Wellens is as ready for it as he will ever be.

“I’m really looking forward to it,” said Wellens.

“Obviously they can go above us if they win, but if we win that opens up a four-point gap and that gives us a two-game advantage.

“It’s a local derby so I expect the tempo to be really high, and we’ll have a lot of fans there.

“The players are working as hard as they possibly can.

“They’re showing character which is great – maybe we just need that bit of luck to go our way now.

“If we perform as we have been doing, though, and take our chances, that’s why I’m looking forward to the game so much.

“Nothing is easy, but this club has always done things the hard way and we’ll go to Rochdale with our spirits high even though we conceded in the last minute on Saturday.

“It’s like a cup final for me. If we win, we take a massive step towards what we want to achieve.

“If we lose we take a massive dent.

“Then it will be on to Wimbledon on Saturday and that’s another cup final.

“If we win these two games it’ll stand us in really good stead.

“It’s all about the players now, though.

“Every manager in the country will wish he could put on his boots again at this time of the season, but it’s all about the current players.

“Can they show the real desire to get on the ball and pass it? Can you be brave and not let mistakes affect you?

“We need to respond well to those mistakes, defend well, and try and affect the game in a positive way.

“There’s no motivation for a game that means as much as this one.

“Three points is all that matters.

“Since I came to this club I’ve been focused on performances, but tomorrow is just about getting the three points.

“If we perform badly and win, we’ll take that. If we win, we can see the line.”

Athletic and Dale will both have four games left to play after tomorrow night.

Striker Craig Davies is out with an ankle problem tomorrow, while left-back Wilfried Moimbe is suspended after he was sent off against Gillingham.

Similarly, Rochdale skipper Ian Henderson will be unavailable for the Crown Oil Arena clash as he was also red-carded in Saturday’s superb 1-0 win at Peterborough.

Wellens is clearly relieved that the hosts will be without one of their main men.

The Athletic boss added: “He’s their best player. He’s a very clever footballer.

“I’ve watched him develop for a number of years and while he’s always had goals in him, he is very clever.

“Positionally he’s very good, he can run off people and he’s clever on the ball.

“He will be a loss for them, no doubt.”