WHILE admitting that there could be better times to play Bradford Park Avenue, Guiseley manager Mark Bower has left his squad in no doubt as to the importance of winning their big derby at Nethermoor on Saturday.

The Lions lost to a sloppy goal at in-form Tamworth last weekend, and with Barrow and AFC Fylde both winning on Tuesday night – Barrow 2-1 at home to Hednesford and Fylde 1-0 at Solihull Moors – it is imperative that Guiseley follow suit.

Fylde, whose goal came in the 89th minute, are ten points ahead of the third-placed Lions, both teams having played 24 matches, while Barrow, whose strikes came in the 86th and 89th minutes, are five points in front of the Lions, having played a game more.

With Tamworth stretching their winning run to ten matches to pull level with third-placed Guiseley, albeit with The Lambs having played two matches more, the pressure is mounting.

Bower said: "Avenue had a great 1-0 win away to Worcester on Sunday, and it is not a good time to play them as they have signed players of the quality of Simon Ainge, who needs no introduction at Guiseley."

Avenue are third from bottom with 23 points from 23 matches, but Bower added: "I am sure they will start to pull away from the relegation zone but, although we are a bit thin on the ground, we have enough quality to go on a long run ourselves like Tamworth have done.

"Andy Holdsworth is out with a hamstring injury but Ryan Toulson (gashed leg against Chorley on December 13) will probably come back into the squad but not necessarily the team, while Adam Boyes and Wayne Brooksby are only a week away from returning.

"It isn't worth us going into the loan market as things stand because while higher-ranked teams want their youngsters to gain experience by playing, and we couldn't promise them that they would get a chance."

Guiseley's match at home to Fylde on Tuesday has been postponed because of The Coasters' involvement in the FA Trophy, which means that the Lions' next match after the Avenue derby is at Boston United a week on Saturday.