CHIPPENHAM Town manager Mark Collier says his side need to learn from their misdemeanours of the last month as he casts one eye on to next season.

Despite coming back from a two-goal deficit to record a 3-2 victory over BiggleswadeTown – their first win in eight – on Saturday, Collier knows that his side have not done enough in recent weeks to secure a play-off spot in the Evo-Stik League Southern Premier Division.

The Bluebirds travel to Cambridge City this evening six points adrift of the top five and Collier admits that recent results have had him thinking about his squad ahead of next season.

“Maybe we are going to pull up a little bit short, given the fact our form has been so poor of late,” he said.

“We have missed out on so many points, however, (Saturday’s win) has given us a little reminder that when we do try and play our football, that we can be a force.

“Who knows where it will take us. We have another important game tonight and if we can get another three points there, then we still have six games to play after that and we have to wait and see.

“We have always said we can’t do anything about other people and all we can do is look after ourselves.

“You start having doubts about the players (when you are 2-0 down) and I am sat there thinking to myself, watching the game, that maybe some of these players shouldn’t be at the club next year, but you shouldn’t be thinking that because for two thirds of the season, they have been outstanding.

“We have got 70 points. That counts for absolutely nothing at this moment in time, however, it is the most we have achieved in a long time and whether it takes us to the play-offs or not – I would think it is unlikely – but it should stand us in good stead.”

Matt Smith took a knock to his ankle on Saturday but Collier is hopeful that he will be fit for tonight’s game as Chippenham look to take advantage of Cambridge’s congested fixture list.

“They’re a decent side and the only advantage for us is that they played on Tuesday night against Paulton Rovers (a 2-1 defeat), so two games in 48 hours is a big ask,” he added.

“Cambridge always produce a decent side and we expect a difficult game against a team who have certainly underachieved.”