O/T:- tonight’s games

[MAD_MAGPIE]

That’s because IMO we’re not behind them at all in terms of quality of player, but we are well behind them in the mentality and intensity needed to grind out wins in close games over the course of a season.

Look at how few draws we’ve had this season and our goal difference compared to the teams around us - with the odd exception, our games have tended to go one way, we either get on top, can play our football and win easily, or we lose a narrow game by a goal or two.

Some good points. Perhaps by the end of the season we will be more battle hardened to league two which will enable us to be stronger for any playoff campaign or for next season.

You've hit the nail on the head about the draws. In terms of wins we've only won two less games than Mansfield but look at the draws. They have become a tough side to beat and have been able to pick up points in games and that's what sees them in 2nd and us in 10th. It's similar with the likes of Crewe and Barrow which is why they are above us.

If we can be a bit more streetwise, battle hardened or whatever we want to call it that's needed to be strong enough to snatch a draw from defeat, or a win from a draw then that is the key to being an automatic promotion contender. If Stuart Maynard can install this into the team then he will have cracked it the way I see it.

The other alternative is we do like in the National League and over time build a team far superior quality for league two level which may enable us to get those additional results needed.