Keith Alexander has challenged is side to upset the odds when they take on Bournemouth at Dean Court on Saturday. The hosts have been in and around the top three places all season and currently sit second, five points clear of 4th placed Rotherham.

The team coach set off from the Moss Rose at 10am for an overnight stay on the South Coast, and despite five hours later still being sixty miles from their destination thanks to the closure of the motorway, spirits in the camp were still high.

"No one expects us to go out there and get a result," explained Keith, "so we've got nothing to lose in that respect. I realise that's an easy thing to say and another thing to carry out, but the lads are a positive bunch and we're all looking forward to the challenge."

"Ordinarily I'd take 18 players for an away game but given a few of the lads will undergo a late fitness test, we've gone with twenty. Carl Tremarco hasn't made it and of course Hamza. John Rooney hasn't travelled as he picked up a knock in training on Thursday. But I'm hopeful that the likes of Craig Lindfield and Paul Bolland will be in contention."

"We know its going to be tough. Bournemouth have done well of late and in Pitman they have a forward scoring for fun. And of course Steve Fletcher, as frontmen go, is second to none. But we've looked solid at the back and if we can get through the first twenty minutes we can hopefully go on and raise a few eyebrows."