NCEL: Knaresborough Town won’t underestimate whipping boys Lincoln Moorlands Railway - boss

Rock bottom Lincoln Moorlands Railway head to Manse Lane at the weekend having only picked up four points in the opening four months of the campaign.

Knaresborough are seeking a fourth straight win in all competitions, but boss Stansfield urged his players to put league standings to the back of their mind when they take to the field.

The boss said: “When you’re playing teams at the bottom, sometimes teams don’t beat you, you end up beating yourself.

“The players will have it spelled out in no uncertain terms what is required.

“If we approach it right, we should win the game. If we don’t, it should be a tough one.”

Lincoln have only one win to their name in the opening 26 encounters they have played this season, with their goal difference sitting at a mere -92.

The troubled team were also defeated by a league record scoreline of 14-0 at Selby Town last month – when only turning up to the match with eight players.

And the reverse fixture between the teams saw Knaresborough bag the three points with six difference scorers in a 6-0 win in September.

However, with a new manager at the helm, Stansfield was wary of a backlash, and rejected any thought it was simply a chance for his strike-force to fill their boots.

He added: “I don’t think you can go into any game thinking about improving your goal difference because you’re asking for trouble.

“We have to go and win the game and take whatever comes after that.

“It’s been a difficult situation for them but we have seen how things change so quickly in this league.

“It wasn’t long ago that Grimsby Borough were getting beaten heavily every week and now they have climbed the table (into 18th place)

“You never know what kind of team the others are going to gave. You just have to concentrate on our own side. You can’t go into it thinking it’s a guaranteed win.”

Knaresborough jumped up to tenth spot on Tuesday night after an edgy victory over third bottom Worsborough Bridge Athletic 2-1.

The win came six days after Stansfield’s squad beat AFC Mansfield by the same scoreline last week in the League Cup third round last night.

Stansfield named the same starting line-up for both victories and Blaine Hobson is his only injury doubt ahead of this Saturday.

On Tuesday night’s win, the boss added: It’s not a nice place to go on a Tuesday night. The pitch was terrible and the floodlights were poor.

“We played very well in the first half and should have been leading by more than one goal but they came back into it and pressured us after the break.

“Towards the end, we just controlled the territory and did a really professional job. It showed we have that bit of resilience and toughness.”