LET'S PUT THINGS RIGHT - LEE

DRESSING ROOM TALK. . . Lee Croft says a frank exchange of views took place between Athletic players after Monday's shock FA Cup exit

FIGHTING fit and eager to get back in the starting line-up, Lee Croft was one of few players to emerge with credit from Athletic's shocking defeat at Lincoln City.

The winger (31) played a major part in what threatened to be a startling comeback at Sincil Bank, but despite pulling two goals back with Croft on the pitch the defeat left Athletic dealing with an FA Cup exit at the hands of non-league opponents - not to mention a new schedule that meant NO days off for the players this week.

Croft, whose short-term contract runs to an end at the end of this month, revealed that there was a frank set of talks between the players at full-time on Monday night.

And he has since seen in the squad a determination to get back to winning ways by gaining a victory at Oxford United tomorrow (3pm kick-off).

"It was a real disappointment at Lincoln and from a physical point of view, they had the better of it and that is what probably ended up costing us," said Croft, who replaced Carl Winchester in the 55th minute.

"The big lad (Matt Rhead) up front caused problems. But we had worked on that threat in the build-up and the gaffer had told us all about it. There aren't any excuses.

"We definitely want to go about putting things right now. Everyone was upset after Lincoln and we were hurting. Things were said after the game.

"We have trained hard and been in every day since.

"We know that we can play far better than we did at Lincoln. Scunthorpe and Port Vale recently showed that. We have got to get back to that sort of form."

Croft has been challenged by his manager Stephen Robinson to improve his fitness levels and feels he has benefited from extra work put on for him after training.

GOAL

The goal now is to start in games in a bid to win a longer contract with a club he feels at home with.

"I want to be here and hopefully we can get something sorted out," said Croft, when asked about his future.

Tomorrow's fixtures in Sky Bet League One -

MK Dons v AFC Wimbledon (1pm); Bradford City v Charlton Athletic; Bristol Rovers v Bury; Fleetwood Town v Walsall; Millwall v Shrewsbury; Oxford United v ATHLETIC; Peterborough v Chesterfield; Port Vale v Northampton; Rochdale v Scunthorpe; Sheffield United v Swindon; Southend v Coventry.