Home advantage could be the decisive factor in our push for a play-off place as we prepare to entertain Morecambe tomorrow, the side directly below us in the table.
Johnnie Jackson spoke about looking to maintain our recent excellent form at the Cherry Red Records Stadium over the next two and a half months, after our final training session today.
“It’s so tight,” said Johnnie. “We’re one point outside the play-off places and only four points separate Notts County in the last place down to Newport County in 14th.
“It’s going to be the team that puts a run together that’s going to get in the play-offs, so we’ve got to be that team. We’ve got to try to have a bit more of that consistency about us. We are in decent form, we had a little setback in midweek, but I think we’re playing well and picking up points regularly. That’s what we’ve got to keep trying to do.
“If we can put three or four wins together, we could find ourselves amongst it. That’s what we must aim to do. Every team around it is going to be saying the same thing, including tomorrow’s opponents, so it’s important we get it right and we get it right soon.”
However, there’s been no place like home for the Dons and that special atmosphere created by our supporters on a match day at Plough Lane.
“We’ve loved being there recently,” said Johnnie. “Our form has been really good, certainly of late. We’ve won six out of the last seven, which is strong form, but we need to carry it on.
“I think nine of our last 15 games are at home, so we’ve got more at home than we have away. We need to make that count. If we can carry that on and be hard to beat, first and foremost, then I think that will give us a good chance.
“I’ve seen a lot of Morecambe recently and they’ve been one of the form teams in the division, regardless of where they are – they’re in and around us. It’s an important game as far as that’s concerned, and we won’t be taking them lightly at all. They’re a very good side.”
Johnnie has no fresh injury concerns ahead of the game. Centre-backs Ryan Johnson and Joe Lewis remain sidelined, but skipper Jake Reeves and forward Josh Neufville could return next week.
Johnnie said: “Everyone came away from the Accrington game okay, tired with the exertions we put in and the travel, but they’ve recovered really well and are desperate to be involved on Saturday.
“Perhaps we’ll look at next Tuesday or the following Saturday to get the skipper back involved.
“Jake has been dipping in and out of training over the last couple of days, so the game will probably come too soon for him tomorrow. He feels good though and the temptation is to sling him back in, what with the kind of character he is, but at the same time I don’t want to lose him for any longer.
“Josh is a little bit further behind, but not far. They’ve done a lot of their rehab together, so I think we’ll start dipping him in and out of training next week.
“We want him back and hopefully that can be for the trip to Doncaster next weekend. We’ve just got be careful with him, but he’s progressing really well.”
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Main photo: Pro Sports Images.