Latics striker Jose Baxter scored his ninth goal of the season with a brilliant header at Yeovil on Saturday. His short-term contract expires on 14th January and, although the Latics boss wants him to stay, several clubs have been following his progress at Boundary Park. Since joining the Latics as a free agent in September he has impressed and Athletic may not be in a position to match the terms which may be offered by Championship clubs. Baxter admitted, “I am in talks now and hopefully I can stay and play. If I do go, hopefully I will go to a team where I can play games. That is all I want to do, play football.”
Speaking of the upcoming Boxing Day clash with Doncaster Rovers Baxter commented, “We know a bit about them and them a bit about us. We have one win each, so hopefully we can make it two-one. They will know our game plan and our players inside out. For me, I think it is easier to come up against a side you haven’t already played. But we will perhaps change things a little bit and hopefully get the win.”
Despite recent results an upbeat Paul Dickov said, “We know we can beat them as we have done recently. But we have to tighten up. The way the goals were conceded at Yeovil, especially in the second half, was really poor from our point of view. Myself and Gerry Taggart do a lot of work with the back four, in those scenarios. So for it to happen as it did on both occasions is poor on our part. What we have to now is dig ourselves back out of the hole we have put ourselves in again.”