Manager Richie Wellens was happy to progress through to the quarter final of the Checkatrade Trophy.
A 4-2 win over Leicester City under 21s secured Athletic’s passage through to set up a tie with Shrewsbury Town in the next stage.
Speaking after the game, Wellens said: “I’m really happy. We should have been two or three goals up in the first half but they defended their goal well and got blocks off the line.
“I keep saying week in, week out that if our final ball is better then we will score goals. The substitution is big at half time and to score four goals in the second half is pleasing.
“The positives are that we are creating chances and we always had belief. When Aaron came on, he was fantastic.
“I said before the game I can feel something good happening again. Their are new faces coming in the building and good footballers coming back and I can sense something good going to happen in the next 10-12 weeks.
“I asked them to start now leading up to Saturday and they did that. They were positive and aggressive against a young team but in their league, they have won 20 odd games on the bounce.
“It was never going to be easy and if you add Musa who cost a lot of money and a couple of other players who have played in the Premier League so it was a good performance and I’m really pleased.”
Striker Craig Davies netted two goals and Wellens praised his striker.
“He’s in a rich vein of form and he’s got 13 this season so I imagine if he carries on then it’s going to be his best goalscoring season in a long while,” he commented. “I’m pleased for him and he worked hard.”
Second year youth scholar Tom Hamer made his debut and won the club’s man of the match award.
“I’m well aware of Tom,” said Wellens. “I took him in the reserves earlier this season and he was one that I thought could push on.
“I was just worried putting him in at the moment in our position but physically and in terms of his aggression, I was never worried about him.
“You always wonder how they will handle the occasion but he put in an assured performance and I thought he was fantastic in the air. It is a performance for him to build on but he’s going to be a good player.”