Saints aim to keep slim title hopes alive

With the cup competitions taking centre stage recently, tonight's hosting of Sylvans at Blanche Pierre Lane is the black-and-whites' first league game since late February.

After an albeit weakened side lost 3-2 to Jackson League outfit Manzur on Saturday in their Stranger Cup match, John Peace's side will be looking to bounce back.

They need to, too, as they trail leaders North by eight points and have also played a game more, although they do meet the league leaders twice in four days next week.

With the only two sides above them – North and Rovers – meeting tomorrow night, this could be a chance for Saints to gain some ground.

However, that is the furthest thing from assistant coach Leon Meakin's mind as he admitted that it would take a minor miracle for his side to win the league now.

'Realistically there is no chance of us winning the league title this season, I think it is too late in the day to make up the gap on North, who have it pretty sewn up,' he said.

'For us, we are taking it each game as it comes because we don't know whether we will have the same XI out one game to the next because the fixtures are coming so thick-and-fast now.

'Our first priority is to win this game because, if we were to lose, Sylvans aren't too far behind us and our main aim this season has always been to finish in the top three.'

Tonight's match kicks off at 7.30pm.