CRAIG Davis has sent out a rallying cry to Winchester City fans to get behind the club for one big play-off push.

Ninth-placed City have suffered some disappointments of late and yet, with ten games to go, they find themselves just five points off third spot in the Evo-Stik South West.

Speaking ahead of Saturday’s (3pm) crucial game at home to second-to-bottom Slimbridge, Davis said: “We’ve gone through a bit of a tough time, but over the course of the season we’ve given our supporters good value for money and they’ve all been as good as gold to me and the team.

“Now’s the time for us to all group together and see if we can pull something special out of the bag.

“Saturday’s is a game we simply have to win.

“I don’t like to say it’s a ‘must-win’, but we need all three points, it’s as simple as that.

“We’re five points off third-placed Evesham with a game in hand and, really, you’d have snapped your arm off to be in that position given what Evesham have got in their ranks.”

City will go into battle on Saturday fully aware that they need to do better against clubs in the lower reaches of the table.

They lost 2-0 at Slimbridge in January and have recently dropped valuable points against basement boys Bishops Cleeve and Barnstaple Town.

“I still don’t know how we didn’t manage to score at Slimbridge, but they worked really hard and they deserved the result for their workrate, if nothing else,” player-boss Davis recalled.

“I know they’re going through a bit of a hard time, but it was by outworking teams that they got results earlier in the season.

“We’ve got to match that workrate and hope we get the rub of the green.

“If we can hit the back of the net once, I’m sure more will follow.

“Our goal difference is average compared to some of the other teams around us and it may come down to that.

“We’ve got some tough games coming up after this with Evesham away next week (March 24) and then Cirencester and Totton to come the week after, so it’s important we get a result.”

With last Saturday’s home showdown against league leaders Taunton Town falling foul of the wet weather, the Citizens have been able to focus on training this week.

Injured duo Joe Cook and Liam Gilbert are making positive strides, but won’t be ready for Saturday, while Adam Tomasso is still unavailable.

“We’re still carrying some knocks and niggles, but the week off has helped,” said Davis.

"We've trained really well."