If he needs the usual three-week break for a muscle strain, matches against table-toppers Reading and rock-bottom Cambridge will also be off the agenda. The consolation for Athletic is that Paul Murray, their driving force in recent weeks, is now free of suspension. Another midfielder, Tony Carss, is fully recovered from long-term injury problems and has been making good progress in the reserves. Athletic’s travel sickness is in serious danger of ruining their bid for a play-off spot. Defeat at Wigan means they have managed just four wins out of 20 on the road, losing more than half their away games in 2002. It is a worrying trend which has to be reversed, or the promotion Athletic crave will be delayed for at least one more season. Though outstanding form at Boundary Park helps enormously, there is a glaring need to back it up when home comforts aren't available.
The latest setback followed disappointing draws at Peterborough and Bury, a pair of strugglers who aren't clear of relegation fears just yet. Wigan were a different proposition, a side who ought to be higher than mid-table. But losing at the JJB Stadium was still a poor result for play-off chasers. Nor could Athletic have many complaints. The home team, for whom Andy Liddell scored a clinical winner, shaded 90 minutes of hard-fought, wind-affected, less-than-pretty
football. And it doesn't get any easier for Mick Wadsworth and his men. The away tests still to come are at leaders Reading, Huddersfield Town, who have now usurped Athletic in the top six, and that always-awkward place to visit, Wycombe.
Without the banned Paul Murray to chug away at both ends — his invention was
sorely missed — Athletic slotted Julien Baudet into midfield for their second derby clash of the week. His role was largely defensive and involved keeping a close eye on winger Peter Kennedy. In that sense, it was eminently practical. But Athletic also found their attacking edge being blunted, despite the return of leading marksman David Eyres from injury.