AFC Telford keep a lid on expectation

But the Bucks boss stresses his No.1 target is to secure Telford’s position in the division’s top half before looking up further.

Cowan’s initial aim was to better last season’s 14th-placed finish, but the boss led his side on a storming run of five straight wins before Saturday’s 1-0 defeat to Kidderminster – as well to the last 16 of the FA Trophy.

“The runs always come to an end. It’s not Arsenal, we’re not the Invincibles,” said Cowan.

“But we’re growing as a group.

“Like I’ve always said, we wanted to stay away from relegation – and now the aim is to stay in the top half.

“It’s very difficult to try to keep a lid on people’s expectations, but we’ve got to remind people of where we’re at.

“What happens with hope is that sometimes it turns into expectation.

“If we’re just a bit more reasonable and have a bit more logic, let’s get the points to stay in the top half initially, then we might look at the play-offs, and so on and so forth.”