Step up to the plate – Lee

Outstanding: Korey Smith demonstrates his tenacity in midfield.

LEE Johnson has called on his fringe players to up their game after his side was held by Mansfield Town.

A brilliant individual goal by skipper Korey Smith was cancelled out just before half-time when Sam Clucas' thunderbolt free-kick deflected off Anton Rodgers and beyond Mark Oxley in the Athletic net.

Neither team did enough in a mundane second half to earn victory: Athletic largely dominated but struggled to fashion a clear opening.

Johnson said: "It was very flat, wasn't it? It was reminiscent of a reserve game, and I certainly blame that on our players because we didn't have any spark apart from Korey Smith and that wonderful goal.

"It was lucky he did, because no doubt we were poor. I'm sure we’ll go there for the second game and not be as bad again.

"We've got a big game tomorrow against Chesterfield and if we turn up and play like that, then we'll get beat.

"They are a young group. Our progression is going to be a spiral, and we've just dipped with this result on that spiral, but hopefully tomorrow we'll produce a better performance."

There wasn't the intensity of performance of the previous Sunday against Bradford City when the two League One rivals went at it hammer and tongs.

“The ones on the fringe are going to have to stand up and be counted. Something has got to come out of the group that says this is me and I am the best player, like Korey Smith against Mansfield - he gave us that little bit of spark.”