EASTLEIGH boss Richard Hill is looking at the bigger picture ahead of tomorrow’s Vanarama Conference clash at Gateshead.

The Spitfires make the trek to Tyneside without a win in their last three games.

But as they close in on their 40th fixture of their maiden top-flight season, they are still in promotion contention, lurking two points outside the play-off zone with a game in hand over fifth-placed Forest Green.

Not only that, they have managed to keep themselves in the mix despite a daunting block of February/March fixtures, including clashes with the division’s top four.

“I said before Chester (on February 21) that we would know where we were after the next eight games. Either we would still be in there fighting or we’d be completely out of it with nothing left to play for,” Hill said.

“The fact is we’ve picked up 13 points from the first seven of those games – against Chester, Macclesfield, Bristol Rovers, Kidderminster, Barnet, Wrexham and Grimsby - which is better than our average for the whole season.

“I appreciate it’s been diluted a bit by the last couple results but, actually, we haven’t done too badly considering we’ve played all ex- Football League teams. No one else this season has had an eight- game block like that.”

Eastleigh were nudged down a place to seventh on Tuesday when Woking powered back from two down to beat Torquay 3-2 – the Cards’ fifth win in six league outings.

“Woking have caught up because the teams at the top have been beating each other but, credit to them, they’ve still had to win their games,” said Hill.

“But we’re hanging on to a nice little position and, do you know what, Eastleigh are going into their 40th game with everything to play for while some other clubs out there – ex-Football League included – will just be fulfilling a fixture tomorrow.”

Gateshead are ninth, three points behind Eastleigh, and had 11 players out injured for Tuesday’s 2-2 draw at FC Halifax.

One of them, ex- Sunderland midfielder John Oster, misses the rest of the season with a knee problem, while 21-year-old Black Cats goalkeeper Joel Dixon has arrived on loan to replace injured stopper Adam Bartlett.

To add to their woes, Gary Mills’ Tynesiders had Oster’s replacement, on-loan Carlisle midfielder Josh Gillies, sent off at Halifax.

Gillies is one of three players suspended tomorrow. Eastleigh’s Jai Reason serves the second of a two- game ban, while Deon Burton misses the next three after being red- carded for retaliation at Grimsby last week.

Hill felt at the time that it should have been a penalty for Eastleigh and the boss - himself dismissed from the dugout during a 2-1 defeat - has not changed his mind. “I’m not saying Deon was blameless, but their fella’s elbowed him.

“Deon’s lip was up like a bal¬ loon and he didn’t do that to himself, did he?” he said.

“For me, that summed up the way the game was officiated. It’s no coincidence that every time we go up north we come away with nothing.

“We just need a strong referee who is not going to favour one side in all the small decisions.”

Whatever his reservations about match officials, Hill will set his stall to win at Gateshead.

“Perhaps sometimes when we don’t win it’s my fault because of how I set the team up. Perhaps I should be a bit boring and go for a draw. But I can’t do it and I won’t do it,” he insisted.

“Other teams don’t do it either and that’s why I like this league.

“We were 3-0 up against Macclesfield at our place and they were still trying to score. Lincoln were the same. It’s brilliant!"