AFC Telford vs Biggleswade Town - Match preview

After two encouraging performances at home against fellow-promotion hopefuls Bedford Town and Harborough Town, the Bucks now host the side cut 15 points adrift from safety at the foot of the table.

However, with one of the 15 points they have picked up this season coming against Telford on the opening day the Bucks boss admitted his side cannot afford to drop points again tonight.

“It’s going to be about our players conducting themselves in the right way,” Wilkin explained. “We’ll be expected to win the game and that creates a different challenge mentally more than anything else really.”

He added: “Hopefully we can build on the back of two really solid performances at home, and if we can go and get the three points that won’t be a bad return from our last three games.

“I was generally pleased with the performance (on Saturday), and we looked in control of the game throughout.

“Harborough are a decent enough side and but for one or two moments, which we reacted to and covered well, I thought we were in the ascendency throughout.

“We got into some good areas and just missed the ruthless edge to get the goal basically.”

Discussing his side’s meeting with Biggleswade on the opening day of the season, Wilkin said: “We went there on the first day of the season and when you look at the first half compared to the second half they’re two different games.

“We really should have put the game to bed in the first half and we didn’t.”

He added: “There are no givens in the league, as we’ve found out.

“They were obviously still on a high from promotion at that stage, and obviously since then it’s been a bit more of a struggle for them.

“I need to worry about what we're doing and make sure we bring our game to the table, because more than anything we need three points.”

For the second game in a row Telford were unable to name a full quota of substitutes on Saturday but were able to welcome Remi Walker back on to the bench.

First teamers Byron Moore and Steffan Jones were still absent, while a number of deals for new signings are still in the process of being finalised.

“With Byron we’re possibly looking at the end of the week, but even that might come a little bit too soon,” Wilkin revealed. “Steff’s seeing a doctor this week so he’s a little bit further away, and then everyone else has come through the weekend in good shape, which is good, because we certainly don’t need any more casualties.

“Remi’s trained with us and came through it fine. We might look to manage his minutes when it comes to bringing him in, but if he had to go and play 90 minutes he’d be able to I’m sure.”

Bucks:

Hall (GK)

Myles (RB)

Pendley (CB)

Whittall (CB)

Cranston (LB)

Piggott (DM)

Hawkins (CM)

Brogan (CM)

Armson (RW)

Stenson (ST)

Brown (LW)

Subs: Storer, Hilton, Walker, Styche

Biggleswade: Berman (GK), Flanagan, Simpson, Stirling, Doherty, Steele, Adu, Andrews, Babaie, Izekor, Ibrahim