PAOLO Di Canio has demanded that some of his players stand up and be counted after the Town boss expressed his dissatisfaction with Swindon’s performance in the 1-0 win at Morecambe yesterday.

Paul Benson scored the only goal in a largely forgettable encounter at the Globe Arena to secure another three points that has pushed Town another step closer to securing automatic promotion.

But for Di Canio, the performance of a number of his players yesterday was far from acceptable and he wants to see nothing less than 100 per cent effort from every player he picks between now and the end of the season.

“I am not happy, I don’t change my feeling just because we are close to the target,” he said.

“I can accept if we do not play a very good game but the commitment and attitude of five or six players was absolutely not acceptable.

“They have to grow up quick and they have to do more.

“They have to feel the responsibility because we are close to the target, we can make mistakes technically but I can’t accept being too shy or lazy.”

Benson took a knock to the head early into the encounter but soldiered on and Di Canio feels that is the attitude and mentality that he wants from all his players.

“Benson works hard, he is 32 and he had a problem in his shoulder. He was on the ground screaming in pain and he wanted to go off but I told him that we needed him,” he added.

“He is crucial and without him we would not be able to stay at the top.

“The players have obviously put him in a position to be able to score, but he has also helped the others to play the right way.

“Benson brings to us extra quality that has added to the quality we already had before he arrived and the combination has been perfect to arrive at the top.

“But without him it would have been more difficult.”