We have the strength to win automatic promotion

12:59pm Thursday 20th March 2008

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THE players have shown a tremendous amount of character again to come back following two successive defeats.

It was an outstanding achievement to bounce back with three wins and three clean sheets - and maybe with just a slice of luck that we have deserved along the way with the own goal at Accrington and the own goal that gave us all three points against Wycombe.

The Wycombe game was a good advert for League 2 football. Both sides tried to pass the ball and there were plenty of goalmouth incidents. Either side could have scored several times.

But we dug in and maintained the results that have kept us in the top three.

I think it was Sir Alex Ferguson who used the phrase squeaky bum time'.

And it does become as much a test of character as well as ability at this time of year. Traditionally, Easter was always considered to be a time when some of the promotion and relegation issues were sorted out.

This year, Easter falls earlier than normal and, when we have finished with Lincoln on Easter Monday, we will still have seven games to go.

That gives us plenty of time for repairing any damage or consolidating at the top.

Two matches in three days is a tough programme but, thinking back to not so very long ago, traditionally Easter was always three matches. We played on either Friday, Saturday and Monday or Saturday, Monday and Tuesday. When we talk about the demands on players today, that used to be a really crucial four days that would have tested any athlete.

Thank goodness good sense prevailed and the Easter programme was reduced to two games.

At this vital stage, I feel we are in good condition. There are no signs of any of the players feeling the tension and, with the exception of Luke Webb and, now, Mike Ingham, we have the squad fit, irrespective of whether we manage to bring in anyone else before next Thursday's transfer deadline.

I believe we have enough experience, enthusiasm and versatility in the club to cover the remaining matches.

Most pundits, away from Herefordshire, would have expected us to have been the one out of the four teams chasing automatic promotion to have succumbed to the pressure.

The other three - Milton Keynes Dons, Peterborough and Darlington - are far bigger clubs with far bigger budgets but with that goes far greater expectation.

I feel we have got the strength to see it all through and manage to fill one of those top three spots.