JON UNDERWOOD believes that Slough Town are in a better place ahead of their return to action in the Southern Premier Division on Saturday.

Slough suffered defeat in their first two league matches of 2017, leaving them fifth in the table and hanging on to a play-off position.

The Rebels were also beaten on Tuesday, losing 4-2 to Maidenhead in the Berks & Bucks Senior Cup semi-finals, though Underwood insists there are positives to take from the performance ahead of a visit from Chippenham Town to Arbour Park on Saturday (3pm).

“We wanted a performance that was back to what we’re capable of and what’s most important now is the last 20 league games,” Rebels’ joint-boss told the Observer.

“We’re in a far better place now in terms of our togetherness and belief, and can be positive about our form going into Chippenham on Saturday.

“We drew 3-3 with them not so long ago and know they have good players, but we’re more confident now.

“Chippenham are our rivals for promotion and their strikers are their strength, two of the best in the league, but we need to get at least a point.

“We need to improve our results to push us up the league. It will be a very close game and we will go there to win.

Slough Observer:

PHOTO - Jon Underwood: “We need to improve our results to push us up the league."

“If we lose it would be a third in a row for us, which isn’t good, so we’ve got to start to take points. A draw and a good performance is not the end of the world but our aim is to get into the play-offs and we still have hope of winning the league.

“If we wins our games in hand we will go joint-top with Leamington, but we need to find a run of wins."

Slough will then make the journey to St Neots Town next Tuesday (7.45pm), where the Rebels have memories of good results in the past.

Underwood commented: "They've not had a great season but changed their manager and got a win last weekend.

"We don't know too much about them at this stage, but it's a nice pitch and ground and we've had some good results there. It's never really been a bad place for us but we must go there to try to get another win."