Smith is hoping for six pointer

The Bucks are scheduled to clock up the miles in the coming days with tomorrow's long trek to Gateshead followed by a trip to Fleetwood on Tuesday.

The UniBond League premier division leaders have managed just one point from their last two games, the lacklustre home draw against Ashton followed up by only a second defeat of the season at Matlock last week.

But Smith is confident his side can recover from those disappointments - and is eyeing a healthy return from this week's double header.

"This was a run of three really tough away games and we have got nothing from the first one (at Matlock)," he said.

"Six points would be the dream from these two games but I would accept four, especially when you consider the amount of travelling that we have to do.

"I'm sure there's people outside the club who think we are going through a wobble and hoping that as well.

"But we don't become a bad side overnight and we are not going to change anything we do.

"I firmly believe that if we keep doing what we have been doing all season we will pick up points and hopefully enough to win it.

"This is the same squad that have done really well this season. The spirit is brilliant and we are really determined to put right what went wrong at Matlock last week."

The Bucks were heading north this afternoon with a fully fit squad after Jimmy Turner recovered from a dead leg.

* Telford's hopes of extending their lead at the top could be in doubt after Gateshead officials revealed a lunchtime inspection of the pitch will be held today.

"There is no snow but there has been an overnight frost," said chairman Derek Bell. "At the present time the game's on but we will have a look at lunchtime."

By James Garrison