Kelvin Lomax has been selected at manager John Sheridan's man of the match after his excellent performance in Athletic's win over Walsall on Tuesday, their third successive League One victory. Lomax has been keeping Wales international Neal Eardley out of the team with performances that have made it impossible for the manager to dispose of him.Sheridan said, "Kelvin has proved he needs to stay in there because he's doing so well that I can't leave him out. He's looking very mature and he's an intelligent player. He has always known the defensive side of his game needed to improve, and he has worked on it. Walsall made it difficult for us, but Kelvin was outstanding - in my eyes he was man of the match. I think he's very elegant, very comfortable on the ball, and I'm pleased for the lad because sometimes in the past I've left him out unfairly."
"He isn't the kind of person to come banging on my door when he isn't playing. He's a quiet lad, but I can't fault him because he's playing consistently. He's working on things, which he needs to do, and he was outstanding with his defending, positional play and passing. I knew it would be close at right-back this season between Kelvin and Neal Eardley, but they are good mates and I want them to push each other on. Neal has kept coming in and training very well. He'll get his chance somewhere along the line, but I think Kelvin will have a decent run."