Boss Rob Smith is challenging his team to get back in the Blue Square North title race by taking 24 points from the next 10 games.

The Bucks play host to Workington at the New Bucks Head tomorrow, and Smith is determined to ensure the Cumbrians don’t become the first side to take three points off them on their own patch.

He has been disappointed by a 16-point return from the first 10 fixtures, but has been encouraged by a five-game unbeaten run in the last few weeks.

“The next month is important for us,” he said. “There’s 30 points up for grabs in the next 10 games and we’ve got to be looking to get 23 or 24 if we are to catch up with what we have lost so far.

“It’s a big ask, but I look at the fixtures we have got and I think it can be done. We’re five unbeaten now and, looking at the next five games, I’d be very disappointed if we can’t get that to 10.

“I feel we’re coming into form, and hopefully we can look again in a couple of months and be in a lot better position.

“If we’ve also got a game with Manchester United in the third round of the FA Cup to look forward to, then all the better!”

On Workington, he added: “I think tomorrow’s game will actually be the hardest one we’ve got in the next few weeks. Workington are a good team – they’re solid defensively and we’re going to have to work hard to break them down. They’ve also got a couple of capable lads up front.”

Smith held court at a fans’ forum last night, sitting alongside assistant Larry Chambers as well as captain Stuart Whitehead and summer signing Gavin Cowan.

The panel was subjected to some tough questions from a few unsettled supporters, and Smith relished the opportunity to have his say.

“People need to understand there’s been some teams in this league spending more money than us for 10 years and they haven’t got out of it,” he said.

“If they can’t do it in all that time, what makes us think we have a divine right to do so?”

Meanwhile, Whitehead remains a doubt for tomorrow’s clash due to a minor hamstring strain.