7th August 2000   

Latics win 3-1

CARLO CORAZZIN has vowed to be razor-sharp for Athletic’s first league game of the season after drawing a blank on his debut against Leeds yesterday. The new signing made a good impression in Athletic’s 3-1 victory and was pleased with the passing game shown by his new team-mates. But he also missed five goalscoring chances, including an injury-time penalty, and was disappointed not to get off the mark. Athletic entertain Manchester City tomorrow and Corazzin aims to use Athletic’s final friendly to blow away the cobwebs. He said: “As a striker, you have to hit the target and make the goalkeeper work. The ‘keeper made a couple of good saves, but I’m hoping the rustiness will have gone before Saturday. “I would have loved to get on the scoresheet, but there are others in the team and if they are scoring that’s even better. “I enjoyed my first game very much. Once we got the early nerves out of the way, we passed the ball well, which is what I expected when I came to the club. “If we keep that together and I start to put some of my chances away, it will be an interesting season.” 

Ironically, Corazzin grabbed the ball as soon as Athletic were awarded their penalty and was in no doubt about his confidence from the spot. “I’ve always liked taking penalties and I think that’s only the second time I’ve ever missed,” the Canadian international admitted. “Maybe the intensity wasn’t there because it was a friendly — but I promise it will be there on Saturday. “And if another penalty comes along, no-one else will get a chance to take that one either!” Manager Andy Ritchie was pleased to see Athletic, who have already won the Isle of Man Festival, retain their unbeaten pre-season record. He said: “Although it’s still about building up to next weekend, I thought it was our best 90 minutes so far.” 

Corazzin’s arrival, on a free transfer from Northampton, has sparked an increase in season tickets at Boundary Park. Meanwhile, fans planning to save on admission prices by taking out membership are asked to do so before Saturday. Manchester City boss Joe Royle plans to field a strong side tomorrow night, possibly including Liberian star George Weah. At 7.20, 25 minutes before kick-off, City will be presented with their division one runners-up medals from last season. Trialist Mark Quayle scored twice for Athletic’s reserves in a 4-2 win at Ashton United on Saturday. The other goals came from Ben Futcher and in-form midfielder Danny Walsh. 

ATHLETIC’S pre-season build-up is running almost perfectly to plan after yesterday’s free-flowing victory at Boundary Park. There was reason to take genuine encouragement from their display against a Leeds side missing a galaxy of stars but still strong enough to present problems. Athletic passed stylishly, created a host of chances and usually looked unruffled at the back. Granted, this was a friendly in which Leeds had an obvious reluctance to stretch themselves too far. But, allowed time to settle into their rhythm, Athletic showed an attacking potential which will be hard to handle for many of their second division rivals. The pity was that Carlo Corazzin saw an injury-time penalty saved and failed to celebrate his promising debut with a goal. The honours instead went to Neil Adams, Mark Allott and Andrew Holt, all of whom took their chances with aplomb as Athletic fought back from behind. Corazzin slotted neatly into the front line and was unlucky to find Leeds goalkeeper Paul Robinson in commanding form.

After arriving at Boundary Park with a reputation for consistent scoring and smart approach play, the Canadian certainly fulfilled the second part of his billing. He took possession several times while under pressure from behind, but was strong enough to hold off challenges and lay the ball to team-mates. He also looked lively around goal and had the awareness to find whatever spaces were left open by the visiting defence. For all that, it’s best to exercise patience at this very early stage — hope, rather than expectation, should be the watchword where the new man is concerned. And it will be interesting to see how Corazzin’s partnership with Allott progresses. The two are fairly similar players, both looking to drop off the front line and link up play from deep. Yesterday, though both played well, there wasn’t much evidence of one running beyond the other in search of a flick-on. One of them will need to do so — in a way that Craig Dudley might, for example — but that’s a minor quibble and it will take a few games for the understanding to develop.

There is no obvious reason why it shouldn’t. Due to injuries and this week’s Champions League match, the Leeds team had an unfamiliar look about it. Despite his caution, manager David O’Leary could still include a pair of England under-21 stars in goalkeeper Robinson and defender Danny Mills. There was also Norwegian centre-back Robert Molenaar, Australian Jamie McMaster — saddled with the title of The New Harry Kewell — and £4million striker Darren Huckerby. Athletic, by contrast, fielded what is likely to be their starting line-up in Saturday’s league opener against Port Vale. Adams slotted in at right wing-back and Paul Rickers made up the midfield trio, while the transfer-listed Allott was given first shot as Corazzin’s strike partner. Leeds went in front after only three minutes with a goal which had a touch of Premiership class. Jacob Burns was alert enough to steal the ball near the edge of the box and when he fed Tony Hackworth, the striker switched to his right foot and curled an inch-perfect shot inside the far post from 15 yards. Athletic were almost level within seconds when Corazzin only just failed to control his header from Holt’s left-wing cross.

They remained inventive going forward and another header, this time from skipper Lee Duxbury, also flashed just wide. Athletic ’keeper Gary Kelly was called into action to deny Kevin Dixon before Corazzin’s clever play produced a half-chance for Allott. And the equaliser arrived after 28 minutes when Adams showed the value of the sweeper system which has become so well established at Boundary Park. Paul Jones picked out Allott on the edge of the box, with the striker using his chest to keep possession and play a short, cushioned pass. Adams, with the licence to roam free, was the man to benefit and crack a low shot into Robinson’s bottom right-hand corner. It could have been two shortly after as Adams — again taking his chance to attack the space — found Corazzin, who fired wide after his first touch let him down. Leeds left-back Fraser Richardson was next to go close, forcing a smart save from Kelly with a drive which could have caught the ’keeper by surprise. Just before the hour, poor control by Jones allowed Huckerby to burst clear with the goal apparently at his mercy. But he found Kelly blocking his path with a brave save. And it was Athletic who took the lead only two minutes later. The provider was Holt, who delivered a low cross from the left after being well found by Rickers.

The ball eluded everyone except Allott, and the striker claimed his fourth pre-season strike with a far-post shot from 10 yards. It took a good block from Robinson to prevent Corazzin doubling the lead, but Athletic’s positive football paid off for the third time in the 67th minute. Corazzin was again at the heart of things with a touch which found Holt making a powerful run from deep. Holt controlled the pass with his first touch and, capping an impressive second-half display, aimed a well-placed shot beyond Robinson from just inside the area. Afterwards, both sides looked happy to play out time and make eight substitutions between them. Corazzin’s penalty miss after a foul on Mark Innes was a disappointing way to end. But it failed to take the gloss off another successful experiment for Athletic.