Smith backs his Bucks to cope

The Bucks enter the last 13 games of the campaign with an eight-point lead in the UniBond League premier division.

But recent performances have not been great - they lost 2-1 at Matlock on Saturday and drew 0-0 at home to Ashton the week before in a display that Smith believes lacked effort or commitment.

Those wobbles have led to concern that Telford might crack in the last two-and-a-half months of the season, but Smith insists nothing could be further from the truth.

"This is where we wanted to be with 13 games to go," he declared. "The pressure is on, but that's a good thing because it keeps you on your toes. The pressure is on for the others as well now and they will have to cope with it.

"We always knew we'd lose games and we'll probably lose more now we're at the business end of the season. You're going to get some funny results at this time and it happens in all leagues. We will handle it, though."

Smith has his eyes on a Witton Albion side who have won their last three outings, scoring 16 goals in the process.

That blistering run has taken them into fifth place, 15 points behind the Bucks but with four games in hand.

And that form has been enough to convince Smith that they will prove a bigger threat than current second-placed side Hednesford in the run-in.

"Witton are the real danger now, in my opinion, and they've done well lately," said the Telford boss.

"It could be a massive game when we play them at their place (on March 6) and it's one we're looking forward to."