Stafford manager Steve Bull welcomes Blue Square North league leaders Southport to Marston Road tomorrow (3pm) by telling them: We should be where you are.

The Merseysiders come to town heading the standings after five games, with 13 points out of 15, the perfect start for new manager Liam Watson after the Sandgrounders return to being a part-time outfit.

Bully’s side sit eighth with eight points out of 15, a reasonable return, but anybody who has watched Rangers this season will tell you that it could have been more.

The Stafford boss knows that – and he wants his opponents to know that.

He said: “We could be top of the league know and we know that. We have lost once to Tamworth, which was to a late goal, in a game fair enough we should not have won but should have not lost either.

“At Vauxhall Motors and Workington, we should have won, in addition to the games we have won against Farsley and Solihull. If justice had been done, we would have 13 points as well.

“The worst thing is the players know that. If we can cut out the silly errors, then we can do something about it.”

A match with the league leaders is just the sort of match where Rangers will be tested but Bully has warned his opponents: ‘We don’t fear you.’

He said: “I don’t see anybody in this league who I think can wipe the floor for us. I have every confidence in my side and we have seen so far that we will be able to compete.

“From what I have heard of Southport, every one of their games has been a hard fought battle with them getting a win or a draw out of it.

“So I am thinking: We can get something out of the game.”

Topping the league at such an early stage may give no indication to the season ahead but starting well is important. The Rangers manager knows that nothing beats points on the board.

He said: “We have started reasonable but I want us to improve. To be fair, on the training ground we have worked on what is costing is. People forget this is a new side that will take time to gel.

“When that happens, I have no doubt we will be up there challenging.”