Wellens happy to take the pressure

The huge importance of Athletic’s final home Sky Bet League One fixture of the season against Doncaster on Saturday is certainly not lost on manager Richie Wellens and his players.

With Athletic having dropped into the relegation zone on goal difference following Tuesday’s stunning 3-0 home defeat by Southend, the squad now have just two games to rescue themselves.

Darren Ferguson’s mid-table Rovers are in town on Saturday, then a potential relegation decider beckons at Northampton Town on the final day, Saturday week, May 5.

Looking ahead to the Doncaster clash, Wellens said: “The players are well aware of the significance, but the last six games have all been the same.

“Every game, we must win this one, we must win that one, so we’re all well aware. Other clubs are going through the same scenario, and we’re dealing with it as best we can.

“We’ve got players who have been through this before, while the newer players, obviously it’s new for them.

“It’s up to the players how they handle it, but for me, I want to put any pressure onto me and not onto the players. It’s just another game we have to win.

“I’ll always take the pressure. I’ve got thick skin because I’ve been in the game a long time.

“I know what it’s all about.

“We’ll have to be a lot tighter than we were on Tuesday.

“We were very loose in midfield the other night, there was no second balls, no game management, and no football brain.

“We’ll have to be better on Saturday.

“For now we can only affect this Saturday, but we need to make sure that when we go to Northampton for the final game, it has to be in our hands.”

One of the few positives gleaned from the Southend fixture in midweek was the continuing solid form of young central defender Tom Hamer, who signed his first professional contract at Athletic earlier this week – a two-year deal.

Signing Hamer up was a statement of clear intent from Athletic, and Wellens.

However, the manager would clearly rather have offered Hamer a little more time to develop his undoubted potential.

Wellens added: “One-hundred-per-cent we’re looking to the future with Tom, but it’s not ideal to have him playing week in, week out at such a young age.

“He’s only just turned 18 don’t forget.

“He’s a really good talent, but putting 18-year-olds in the team week in, week out isn’t the best.

“Playing Saturday, Tuesday, Saturday, Tuesday, his body isn’t used to that.

“Mentally he’s not used to it.

“When we have thrown him in he’s been great, but obviously Tuesday was a tough night, though he acquitted himself really well, playing against some really good players.

“He’s been great, but we don’t really want to be asking as much as he’s given us so far.

“Needs must, though, and I have got a lot of faith in him looking forward towards the future.”

Hamer looks set to continue alongside George Edmundson at the heart of Athletic’s defence against Doncaster, while versatile defender Jamie Stott – recently recalled from a loan spell at Stockport County – could gain a start due to the injury absences of Cameron Dummigan, Kean Bryan and Anthony Gerrard, Wilfried Moimbe’s suspension.