Hazell confident that the team can come back

Last updated : 05 October 2007 By The Chairman
Reuben Hazell is becoming a regular feature in Athletic's first team line up and is confident that the team can come back from the heartbreak defeat at the hands of Leeds United. Hazell is on a short term deal and has put in some impressive performances. He also realises that he is playing for a permanent contract and hopes to continue his partnership with Sean Gregan in the centre of defence when Athletic visit Cheltenham tomorrow.

He said, "We kept Leeds quiet defensively, but that's football. I think we had the better chances. Andy Liddell's chance in the first half was probably the best of the game and Mark Crossley made a good save before they put away the one really decent chance they had. That's how it's going for them at the moment and that's how it's going for us, but we'll bounce back."

"I try to play things simple, and I seem to be striking up a good partnership with Sean Gregan. He tells you what he wants, and we've got two full-backs either side of us in Neal Eardley and Ryan Bertrand who are still learning the game. We'll keep working hard in training to carry on improving. I've played at Cheltenham a few times before and it's a tight ground with tight dressing rooms. It's a lovely pitch to play on though, and I've always got good results there so hopefully that will continue with Oldham. It will be a tough game as they will be trying to impress whoever's going to take charge, and they're down there so will be trying to pick up points. With the players we've got, we should be trying to win every game. We need to produce the same effort as we did against Leeds, create some chances and hopefully put a few away."