St Albans City’s squad can match anyone in the league, according to joint manager James Gray, despite his teams’ poor record against the top sides.

St Albans City’s squad can match anyone in the league, according to joint manager James Gray, despite his teams’ poor record against the top sides.

Against the top six sides – Hemel Hempstead, Chesham United, Cambridge City, Stourbridge, Poole and Bideford – City have picked up a five points out of a possible 27 on offer.

“For one reason or another we’ve come up short against [the top sides]” said Gray following City’s 1-0 win over Chippenham Town on Monday.

“I definitely feel this squad is as good as any. We’re up to two points per game, which was what we wanted when we sat down with the chairman [Nick Archer] at the start of the season.

“That could have been enough to win the league any other year but Hemel [Hempstead] are running away with it. Maybe the the league is not as strong because the lower sides are not taking points off the top teams very often.

“Hopefully the lower sides can do us a favour and we can take care of what we do. We’ve got games coming up with points to take.”

This Saturday City take on Redditch at Clarence Park. With a poor record against the top sides, the Saints’ performances against the lower sides is vitally important if they are to keep pace with their play-off rivals.

“It’s so tight at the top that we have to pick up points [on Saturday],” he said.

“Sides will drop points; we just have to take care of our business. We always respond after a loss; last time we went on a 10-game unbeaten run, hopefully we can do the same again.”