Midweek treks now part and parcel of the game

Having eased to an impressive first League Two victory of the season against Macclesfield on Saturday, Athletic are now gearing up for an exhausting midweek trip south to Yeovil Town tomorrow night (Tuesday, 7.45pm).

The squad is travelling later today after training and then staying in a hotel overnight, but far from being tired or weary, Athletic's players are buoyant and looking forward to hopefully making their mark at Huish Park.

Previewing the tricky-looking Glovers clash, Athletic boss Frankie Bunn said: "Obviously you always like to stay in your own bed and stuff like that, but it's part and parcel of the game now.

"Nowadays players travel distances you wouldn't believe.

"Teams go over to America in pre-season and players just have to adapt to that.

"The world has become so much smaller nowadays, given the quality of travel.

"Our squad is in good shape. We're getting players back all the time and we've more or less got a clean bill of health.

"You could be affected by a bit of fatigue here and there, but overall it's great to have almost everybody back.

"All the games this season have been close.

"The Derby game we played well in, and MK Dons, and then we got something at Forest Green, and that's with a really young team.

"What we've got now is competition for places so people have to perform in order to keep the jersey."

Bunn knows as well as anybody else that the Glovers will be a tough nut to crack, particularly on the back of their 4-0 thumping of Notts County at Meadow Lane at the weekend.

Thw Athletic gaffer added: "They're very organised, good on their setplays so we'll have to be on our guard.

"Again, though, it's a game we'll go and try and win of course.

"It is an important week for us with nine points being available.

"We'll try and get as many as we can."

There has been no further development with the Jack Byrne situation, so he remains out in the cold for now.

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