Linnets boss is hopeful of flattening the Bucks' fizz

Paddy Davitt

King's Lynn boss Keith Webb is confident of testing AFC Telford's title credentials in today's Blue Square North clash at The Walks.

The Bucks' missed out on going joint top of the table in a surprise New Year's Day home defeat to crisis club Stafford - Telford's first league reverse since September 2 after six successive wins.

Gainsborough's second half fightback wrecked Lynn's own bid to end a six-match winless league run but Webb will relish the chance to tackle one of the pre-season promotion favourites.

"We played Tamworth here and gave a good account of ourselves," he said. "We went to Southport and gave a good account of ourselves away so if the boys give me what they did against Gainsborough I'll have no complaints.

"I might freshen it up but there won't be too many changes. If the boys feel fine then I'll be guided by them."

Kettering defender Luke Graham plays the last game of his loan stint but club officials remain confident of agreeing a long-term deal.

Striker Jack Defty (chest infection) is set to return to the squad. Julian Joachim and Michael Frew were paired in attack against Trinity in Defty's absence and Lynn's high profile summer signing believes the duo can trouble the division's best.

"I enjoy playing with him," said Joachim. "We are both quick lads. I think that helps and it's a good outlet for the rest of the boys because we seem to have a good understanding.

"I think the likes of Telford, Tamworth and Southport are decent sides but everyone else is really in a cluster. Results-wise it's a little bit like the last division I was in.

On the day in League Two everybody can beat everybody. At this level you can see the inconsistency and it just shows what you can do by stringing a few results. We could easily climb up the table quite a few spots. That's what we need and that's what we've go to do to turn things around."

Joachim has notched six goals in 26 appearances but the ex-Aston Villa and Coventry striker had to be patient.

"I've had to bide my time because I've been in and out," he said. "I had to adapt at the start and my fitness levels weren't quite right. I hadn't played for a few weeks so when you do get your chance it can be difficult because you probably haven't quite got that match fitness behind you.

"I had a decent run of ten games or so recently which allowed me to build up my fitness and I'm feeling a lot sharper now then what I did. If you are not playing you have to bide your time and just hope when you get the opportunity you take it."

The 34-year-old is finally getting to grips with life outside the professional game.

"I didn't know what to expect to be honest," he said. "I hadn't seen any of the football at this level. I don't tend to watch a lot of football so in that respect it was all new to me but I feel I am gradually getting there.

"The fitness side of things is a bit different because you only train twice a week and it is hard to adapt from training full time.

"It takes a bit of time and you have to keep working on your fitness and do a bit of extra work away from the other lads. I feel I've got used to it and I'm enjoying it. It's like everything in life, you have to enjoy your football to get the best out of yourself."

The former Premiership marksman insists mid-table Lynn remain on the right track.

"Confidence is a big thing in this game," he said. "Gainsborough was very frustrating - a game of two halves. We got off to a great start but it's just the run we're on really. We need that bit of luck to go for us but I felt we created the better chances and we deserved to win overall.

"That's football. You have to pick yourself up and go again on Saturday which we know will be a tough game but I think if we play like we did in the last one we have a great chance. We're desperate just to turn that corner - hopefully sooner rather than later."