Martin Carruthers calls on Ilkeston Town players to defy pressure in title push

The Robins go into the weekend three points clear with three games to play, and should other results go their way, including in their game at Bedworth United on Saturday, they could be crowned champions on Bank Holiday Monday at home to Shepshed.

And as Carruthers reflected on last Saturday’s 2-1 win over Daventry Town, he says it won’t be as straightforward as it might look on paper.

He said: "Credit to the boys again – they found a way to win when we could also have lost it as both teams had some chances.

"Overall we can see that the pressure’s having a real impact on everybody, not just supporters but players too. They’re human beings and the pressure to win a league and to get that winning goal in a game is so difficult.

"We’ve just got to manage the players and keep them as calm as possible and keep grinding the results out.

"These games are different to how they might have been earlier in the season given there’s more pressure involved.

"The teams we’re facing may not have much left to play for but it’s their cup final and you can see how keen they are to beat us.

"We’ve faced it all season and it’s not going to change. It’s par for the course and we have to deal with it and grind the results out.

"We go to Bedworth but again it’s a big banana skin – every player who plays football wants to play well against a top side so we’ve got to go there as strong as possible and try and win the game.”