Hero’s challenge

Free-kick hero Mike Jones says the team will need to perform better to claim three points from the Crawley home game on Saturday.

Jones hit his 38th-minute winner against Leyton Orient despite starting the game poorly due to a bug going round the club. In the end he inspired Athletic to another home victory.

And while his sights are set on a tie at SportsDirect.com Park in tonight’s second-round draw, after that it will be full steam ahead to push the club back up the league with a win over his former club, the Red Devils.

“If you are going to be up at the right end of the table at the end of the season, you have got to be winning home games and that’s what we’ve been doing - while nicking points on the road,” said Jones, a summer signing from the Broadfield Stadium.

“We fancy ourselves against anyone. We were disappointed to lose the unbeaten run, but it was important we bounced back as we did. We will be going out to get three points again to climb back into that top six area.”

Birkenhead-born Jones is now dreaming of a run to the third round and a tie to match that last season at Liverpool.

“The FA Cup is great for everyone, players, fans and the club itself,” he said. “It was a great run last season and hopefully we can do that again.”

Athletic are hopeful of tying up a loan deal for a Premier League midfielder later this week, with an additional striker also thought to be in manager Lee Johnson’s plans.

THE second round FA Cup draw is live on BBC2 tonight from 7pm.