Form can be a stepping stone to a promotion push

Last updated : 01 December 2005 By The Chairman
Ronnie Moore is hoping that Athletic's new found strength in defence will be his stepping stone to a promotion push and feel that the competition for places will spur on the team to better things. With Will Haining and Guy Branston back in Athletic's team, and a 2-0 win at Yeovil 2-0, the defensive shut out was only the second of the league campaign. Stefan Stam (pictured) and Chris Swailes are due to return soon which will mean that Moore will have the luxury of having six players to fill the back three centre spots.

Moore said, “It was only one game at Yeovil and we’ll have to see if the lads can keep that form, but you’ve got to be encouraged. I’ve kept saying things would improve when we had big, commanding centre-halves, so hopefully the time has come. It makes so much difference when you know defenders like Haining are going to attack the ball and dominate. And with Terrell Forbes back there as well, we shouldn’t be fearful of playing against a striker with pace. On Saturday I was able to leave out Danny Hall and Gareth Owen, who was unlucky because he hadn’t done much wrong. It’s good to have competition for all three spots at the back at the moment. Hall is cover for Haining, Owen is cover for Branston and Rob Scott is cover for Forbes. We’ll be even stronger when Stam and Swailes are fit, which hopefully won’t be far away. Touch wood, we’re going to have a group of defenders who would get into most sides in this division.”