Fearsome run does not scare Hockaday

Tomorrow's visit of Aldershot is the Aggborough outfit's last game against a team in the National League Premier bottom half, before a two month run of games against a virtual Who's Who of promotion contenders.

In the space of eight games, Harriers face four of the top current five, including two meetings with leaders Cheltenham Town over the festive period.

For a team who have won just once all year and sit bottom but one, eight points adrift of safety, it is on paper a daunting task.

Yet Hockaday is confident his players can spring a few surprises.

"I don't think there is much in this league," he said. "In a sense, we can go into these games with nothing to lose because everyone is expecting us to get beat.

"We're going to go for it – I don't think we have the kind of team which can defend deep for 90 minutes, we've probably proven that with the goals we have conceded.

"But I really don't think we are far away. We are in good spirits and think we have a chance in every game."

Harriers will hope to close the gap on the teams above them by claiming a second straight home win against the Shots but will be without striker Matthew Barnes-Homer, who is on loan from the Hampshire club.

That has created something of a headache for Hockaday, who finds himself short on the forward line. Gurjit Singh featured as a substitute in Tuesday's 3-1 defeat to Chester despite not having trained due to injury while new signing George Obosu is also likely to play a part.

Hockaday admits that, with the position Harriers find themselves, results are all that matter. "We are where we are because some of our players go out to play football rather than to win a match," he said. "We need to learn to handle the big moments far better."