Iron boss Russ Wilcox has reiterated the importance of focussing on the primary target of securing automatic promotion before eyeing the League Two title
He said that after Saturday’s 1-0 win over Torquay at Plainmoor.By seeing off the Gulls in Devon, United moved level on both points and goal difference with leaders Rochdale – after the Spotland outfit were held to a 0-0 home draw by play-off hopefuls York City.
Most crucially, the weekend results also saw the Iron maintain their seven point lead over fourth-place Fleetwood Town with just five games of the regular campaign now remaining.
That remains the initial target for Wilcox, who told The Iron Player: “We’re looking at top three first, but it’s very pleasing [to go joint-top].
“We’d all love to win it, don’t get me wrong, but the first focus is getting over the line for the top three. If we do that then we’ll be moving on to the title.”
Holding a healthy advantage over the chasing pack as the season draws to a close leaves promotion well and truly within United’s own hands, and Wilcox added: “It [promotion] is certainly closer; it was seven games left and seven points in front and now it’s five matches with the same points difference.
“There were 21 points to play for, and now there’s only 15, so it does narrow it down. Again, we can’t afford to take our foot off the gas as you can see teams like Fleetwood or Burton winning three or four games.”
“We’ve got to make sure we do our business. We would have liked a few more favours today, but didn’t quite get them. You get what you’re given.”
See much more from Russ Wilcox, Sam Slocombe and Sam Winnall on The Iron Player.