Huddersfield injuries worries

ATHLETIC could field a new-look team tomorrow night when they tackle Huddersfield Town in the first round of the Worthington Cup. Manager Andy Ritchie is considering a shake-up for the first-leg clash at Boundary Park and his senior players may be rested at one of the busiest times of the season. As Athletic face eight matches in 25 days, Ritchie is aiming to keep his squad fresh for the all-important league games. There could also be changes to Steve Bruce’s Huddersfield but, with four players getting knocks at the weekend, most of them will be enforced. Midfielder John Sheridan missed Athletic’s last-gasp defeat at Walsall and will only play tomorrow if he is 100-per-cent fit. The 35-year-old has back and knee problems, both of which were picked up against Port Vale on the opening day of the campaign. 

If Sheridan doesn’t make it, Lee Duxbury will probably keep his place to add experience to the midfield. But there is every chance Neil Adams will be left out as Scott McNiven, who made his comeback at Walsall, is now available to fill the right wing-back slot. The nature of Walsall’s win overshadowed a decent display by Athletic, who battled hard for no reward. Ritchie must now find the secret behind shuffling his pack while still coming up with a winning hand. Dean Gorre, Huddersfield’s Dutch midfield star, looks certain to miss the trip after straining a hamstring at Sheffield Wednesday on Saturday. There are also doubts over defender Steve Jenkins and strikers Kevin Gallen and Martin Smith.

IT is one of football’s greatest commandments: Thou shalt not throw away a lead with only 15 minutes to go. Athletic broke that cardinal rule at the Bescot Stadium and should be cursing themselves for allowing Walsall to snatch a stunning last-minute equaliser. In an unpredictable match, they fought their way into pole position and then ruined the hard work by inviting trouble and making crucial errors. Yet, only two games into a new season, there are as many positives to be taken as lessons to be learned. Despite conceding three goals, Athletic showed the right kind of character in a backs-to-the-wall mission which so nearly earned a point. They were good enough to recover from an early setback and, though they only managed to dominate for a short spell, stood up to a Walsall side whose power and individual flair could take some stopping. It is the sign of a confident team that only one catalyst is needed to spark them into action.

Athletic have been riding a wave of self-belief and, once Neil Adams equalised with a quickly-taken free-kick, they caused their hosts all sorts of strife. It will probably be remembered as the cheekiest goal of the season, but Athletic had already looked likely to break through before that moment in the 40th minute. Earlier, they had been hit by a Walsall whirlwind which could have easily brought more than a one-goal reward. The Saddlers rode roughshod over Athletic’s midfield, playing the kind of football Andy Ritchie wants his own side to produce on a regular basis. The visitors were clinging on by their fingertips, but they battled their way into the contest after Lee Duxbury took a firmer grip. Pickpocket Adams stole the leveller and Athletic took a surprise lead, only for Walsall — another side playing with confidence and high expectations — to regain the initiative. And, in the second half, it was virtually one-way traffic towards Gary Kelly’s goal.

Paul Jones led a stout rearguard action but, with too little relief from the pressure, it all became too much. Athletic managed only one real shot in the second period, while Walsall got progressively stronger and showed the same spirit which brought them an against-the-odds win at Rotherham on the opening day of the season. Athletic were forced into one change from the 4-1 defeat of Port Vale, Mark Innes coming in to replace the injured John Sheridan. Walsall also made a straight swap, this time voluntarily, as Darren Byfield was preferred to Jorge Leitao in attack. What a decision that was from manager Ray Graydon. Byfield scored twice on his full debut and was the biggest attacking threat in a team with no shortage of options. Walsall were full of urgency at the start of their first home game and both Brett Angell and Byfield tried their luck before the latter opened his account after 11 minutes. Gabor Bukran’s initial shot was charged down by Jones, but the ball spun out wide and Paul Hall managed to keep it in.

His far-post cross seemed to catch Athletic unawares, allowing Byfield to sneak in and place his volley beyond Kelly from a tight angle. Athletic had yet to have any meaningful possession and were struggling to repel a series of fluent attacks. They finally made the home defence work on the quarter-hour when an Innes shot was saved and Mark Allott’s fine first-time drive brought another diving stop from James Walker. Those efforts worked like an espresso fix for Athletic, who suddenly buzzed into action and began to pass much better. Duxbury flicked a header just wide, while Carlo Corazzin almost forced an opening for himself as Walker threatened to fumble a pass. Walsall were still the more potent threat, but Athletic were rewarded for their improved form when Adams notched his impish equaliser. Home skipper Tom Bennett was punished, probably harshly, for a push on Duxbury 25 yards from goal. Walsall lined up their defensive wall and Walker performed the usual job of checking its position. But, while the ’keeper was by his post, Adams simply curled the free-kick into the gaping hole to his left.

The goal was allowed to stand, the hosts looked staggered and the home crowd were furious at referee Graham Frankland. Athletic almost went in front a minute later, only for Walker to make a brilliant point-blank save from Corazzin’s acrobatic diving header. But there was no denying them just before the break when, for the second successive game, they completed a goalscoring double-whammy. Corazzin was involved again, linking up with strike-partner Allott on the edge of the Walsall box. Allott’s final touch sent through Duxbury, who slid in to divert the ball past Walker from 10 yards. Walsall emerged for the second half as they had for the first, with Athletic needing tenacity, plus a useful helping of luck, to keep them at bay. Victory looked ever more probable until Graydon changed things round to telling effect. One of his three subs, Darren Wrack, poached a goal when he nipped in between the hesitating Adams and Kelly to head home a cross from only six yards.

And, as Athletic tried to settle for the draw, Byfield popped up with a winner which should have been avoided. Another cross did the damage, with Wrack turning the ball back in after a centre from impressive winger Hall. Byfield was outnumbered in the box, but he was given plenty of time to steady himself before firing unerringly past Kelly from eight yards. Innes had a good chance for Athletic in stoppage time but, on the balance of play, Walsall deserved to edge an entertaining game. When these sides meet again in December, it would be no surprise to see both of them setting their sights on the play-offs

ANDY RITCHIE was ruing the point that got away after Athletic suffered only the fifth defeat in 20 games on their travels. The Boundary Park boss would have been happy with a point at Walsall, whose manager, Ray Graydon, is a good friend. Instead, ex-Aston Villa striker Darren Byfield struck at the death to exploit what Ritchie felt was bad defending. He moaned: “We shot ourselves in the foot, It’s an understatement to say I’m very disappointed. “We were in control, but we started defending too deep and taking the wrong options at the wrong times. “In the second half, we didn’t play as well as we had been doing. But the only problems we had were the ones we caused for ourselves. “Neil Adams should have cleared it before their second goal and, for the third, we had three men against two in the box and still allowed their lad (Byfield) to get free. “We told the lads that Walsall have a never-say-die attitude and would keep going to the end, which they did. “We also knew they would start brightly, and they didn’t disappoint us there either. “We got to grips with them and their first goal was yet another decision that didn’t go our way because they had three people stood offside. “But we got back into it and there are lots of good points. We knocked it around well after we scored and we should have taken a point from a difficult place to come. “I thought the lads at the back — Shaun Garnett, Paul Jones and Mark Hotte — did very well. We are still a young team and we will keep learning. “But it’s a collective thing and you have to set your stall out right. “At 2-1 up, we should have been saying `What we have is what we keep’. We need to be physically and mentally stronger.”

Walsall — one of only two teams in the division to win their first two games — are becoming the comeback kings after overturning a 2-0 deficit at Rotherham last week. And Graydon said: “I’m going to lose my hair if this goes on. It might make exciting watching, but it doesn’t do much for my stability. “But we only looked disjointed for a small time after Oldham scored so, if you look at it as a whole, we had the vast majority of the game. “Darren Byfield did exceptionally well. He has had to change things in his life after being at a big club and not getting the breaks. But he’ll do well if he keeps producing like that.” 

"It might just be coincidence, but if there's anything we can do to improve the situation then I'm determined to get to the root of it. "Dean, who was playing ever so well, and Kevin - who is the transfer snip of the season in my book - could be three weeks or, if they turn out to be bad ones, five or six weeks and that's a big blow when the quality of our attacking football has been so high. "We've now produced some fantastic stuff against two sides relegated from the Premier League, but to have so many injuries at this stage is tough. It would be hard for anyone, but for a club with our aspirations, it's very, very difficult." Gallen had netted his first Town goal before he limped off to join Gorré, whose problem looks the more serious. Steve Jenkins (knee) is still sidelined and Chris Beech (calf) is extremely unlikely to be ready by tomorrow. "It's a chance for everyone in the squad and, like Delroy Facey and Thomas Heary on Saturday, I will introduce people and give them their chance," said Bruce.

"There are certainly big possibilities for people and I won't be frightened of throwing them in because I was proud of the way we played over at Hillsborough. "The lads showed tremendous character and commitment, as well as a great deal of ability, and it gave me a big boost at the end of one of my most difficult weeks as a manager to see them all running their socks off like that. "Last week was not easy, believe me, and to get the reward of three points at the end was superb." Town have received no enquiries about transfer-listed Ken Monkou while Kevin Gray's proposed transfer to Stockport is likely to remain on hold for some time. "I didn't like having to take action against Ken Monkou but I felt I had to make a stand," explained Bruce, who was planning to speak with Nico Vaesen about the penalty he conceded at Hillsborough. "If people are going to play for me then I demand they try their utmost, work hard and give it their best shot and that's exactly what the team did on Saturday. "With Kevin, my only concern at the moment is to get him well, because the lad has been quite poorly and he's still got some way to go."