Bunn hails fan power ahead of crunch Newport clash

Athletic manager Frankie Bunn has saluted the fan power which has clearly helped his team on the way to a five-match unbeaten run in League Two.

Crowd figures are on the increase again at Boundary Park, while once again the Athletic team has received terrific support on the road.

Bunn is hoping another healthy crowd turns out tomorrow at Boundary Park as Athletic bid to extend their unbeaten streak against a Newport County side who currently sit second in the early fourth tier table.

A mouth-watering clash – between tow in-form teams - is in prospect.

“I think it’s great for the players when people are showing that support which we've asked for and we which need,” said Bunn.

“There's lots of positives around the club at the minute and we're trying to grow and feed that into the community.

“We love the fans’ backing and when you look at our recent away game at Morecambe where they turned up in their masses and vocally were outstanding, hopefully they can start producing that at Boundary Park.”

Athletic will still be without Gevaro Nepomuceno and Daniel Iversen tomorrow.

They are away on international duty, while the quartet of Giles Coke, Ishmael Miller, Jordan Lyden and Cameron Dummigan are still out with injuries.

However, Bunn does have a selection headache given the number of strikers at his disposal, especially after the impressive performances of Sam Surridge and Callum Lang on Tuesday evening in the Checkatrade Trophy group stage clash against Barnsley.

“It gives you a nice headache, they’re players that score goals and they look lively,” added Bunn.

“They’re young, euthanistic and energetic which is everything you expect of a young player that wants to move forward quickly in their careers.

“In terms of absences, we have the squad to cope.

“People will come in and do a job and if they do it well they could stay in the team, no one's really guaranteed a starting place and that's what you have a squad for.”

Newport will be without strikers Mark Harris and Antoine Semenyo for tomorrow’s trip north.

Harris, who has scored twice in five appearances since joining on loan from Cardiff City, is on international duty with the Wales under-21 side.

And 18-year-old Semenyo, who has one goal in six games since he signed on loan from Bristol City, is again ruled out with concussion after suffering a bang to the head in the recent Carabao Cup defeat by Oxford United.

“I’ve just been informed Antoine’s not available because of the concussion and that he’s under 19,” said frustrated Exiles boss Michael Flynn.

“He’s between 17 and 19 and that means you have to have extra protocol, which is absolutely crazy. The physio is not in my good books!”

It’s a blow for Flynn because Harris has been called up for Wales’ under-21 European qualifiers in Bangor against Liechtenstein tonight (Friday) and Portugal on Tuesday.

“Mark Harris has been very good for us so we’re going to miss him,” Flynn added.

“It’s why I’m more incensed than normal [about Semenyo’s absence].

“We’re down to the bare bones.

“You need luck with injuries and I could have done with one more being called up because we could have had the game called off if that was the case.”

---

Do you have a story for us? Want to tell us about something going on in and around Oldham? Let us know by emailing news@oldham-chronicle.co.uk , calling our Oldham-based newsroom on 0161 633 2121 , tweeting us @oldhamchronicle or messaging us through our Facebook page. All contact will be treated in confidence.