Still time to get it right ­- Robinson

Photo: Alan Howarth

ATHLETIC boss Stephen Robinson (white shirt) and Ian Baraclough (right) watch events unfold

ATHLETIC'S players were unable to scale the heights at Grimsby, with manager Stephen Robinson promising he will do everything in his power to add drive to his players at Millwall.

Urgency and energy were absent at Grimsby in the 2-1 defeat, in which Jamie Reckord netted for Athletic.

Chances were wasted and the performance left Robinson disappointed, but also grateful that there is still time to make the necessary adjustments before the big Sky Bet League One kick-off at The Den.

"We are still a bit off in terms of fitness, but we have to try to catch that up. You can't keep making excuses," Robinson said.

"Whether it is by Millwall or a couple of weeks after, we have to get there. Mentally, the other five-per-cent that is not in their legs may be in their minds at the moment. It is up to us to get that in place this week.

"We created five or six chances and you would expect Billy Mckay or Lee Erwin to go and score. We got balls in the box and got in behind them.

CHANCES

"But we didn't take the chances and lost the goal because we didn't pick up second balls in midfield.

"We want to be a second-ball team with high energy in that part of the pitch but we didn't have it and got punished.

"Better to be punished now than in the season. We told people a few realities of where we are and what we need from them and we expect that to happen this week."

One bright spot in the loss at Grimsby, which leaves Athletic without a win in pre-season, came in the shape of raw new recruit Darius Osei (21) on the right flank.

"Darius is a young boy who we threw on and he is one that we may throw on from the bench," Robinson added.

"He gives us a bit of pace and strength and that's what is probably missing at the moment."