Lee has respect for everyone

NOTHING is being taken for granted by Athletic manager Lee Johnson over next season’s league fixtures.

With an opening month of August featuring home clashes with Walsall, Port Vale and Tranmere and an away date at Stevenage on day one, it is tempting to dream of a positive early points haul.

But Johnson doesn’t think that way — but doesn’t believe either that the bigger clubs entering the division — Wolves, Bristol City and Peterborough to name three — are teams to fear.

“I am not one who looks down a fixture list and picks out three points here, three points there,” said Athletic’s manager. “Football doesn’t work that way.

“Even though there are big clubs in there, you are not playing the history; you are playing the players — who are in League One because they deserve to be.”