Bradford Park Avenue have the opportunity to claim a third Blue Square Bet North victory on the trot when they head to second-bottom Droylsden on Saturday.

The Bloods have had a disappointing season and are struggling to stave off relegation. Meanwhile, Avenue have won three of their last four league fixtures and the points banked have rekindled their hopes of a play-off place.

John Deacey’s men are currently ninth, four places below the play-off zone, but the Horsfall boss has warned that Droylsden will be no pushovers.

Deacey said: “It’s very difficult to go to Droylsden and get a favourable result.

“They will feel they have underachieved and I have been very surprised that they are where they are because I thought they would be one of ‘the’ teams in the division this term.

“Dave Pace (Droylsden’s owner and manager) is a nice bloke and I have know him for the last ten years or more.

“It will be hurting him and his coaching staff and they will be doing everything they can to put things right.”

Deacey does not share the expectations of Avenue fans that the Bloods are there for the taking. While he would love to secure another three points, he realises that Droylsden’s plight will, in fact, be a huge motivating factor.

“Because they are battling to get enough points to make them safe, it will just make them even more difficult to beat,” said the Avenue manager.

“But we have a full squad, so that is a bonus for us. I might even have the luxury of leaving a player out for this game. It’s unbelievable for me to be able to say that after the season we have had.

“I have got Jamie Jackson back in the squad, Ross Daly – who was at a wedding last Saturday – and Jordan (Deacey), who missed last weekend because he was ill. He was really poorly with a virus but is back in training now.

“That might mean I resort to the side and formation that played at Vauxhall Motors in the game before last when we played really well.”