Silkmen boss Keith Alexander believes that this afternoon's reserve team encounter with Nottingham Forest is the perfect opportunity for members of his squad to stake a claim ahead of Saturday's first team trip to Accrington.

"A lot of the lads haven't played for getting on for two weeks now. So in terms of timing the reserve's first game of the season couldn't have come at a better time," explained Keith.

"This is hopefully were we will start to see the benefit of having a reserve team and it will be interesting to see how the lads who play respond. Forest are likely to have a strong side as they have a big squad so it will be a good test."

"Whilst you never really get the same intensity for reserve team games its still a chance for those who haven't featured so far to put their name forward for the trip to Accrington."

"It's no secret that our first two league games have been disappointing. The one thing I have always prided myself on is putting out teams who match their opponents, irrespective of their relative abilities, man for man. But for whatever reason I thought we were strangely lack lustre on Saturday, especially in the first half."

"Sometimes these things happen in sport. No one goes out there to deliberately under perform and it's our job to make sure we get back to the same level of intensity that we put in towards the end of last season."

"We achieved some good results with essentially the same set of lads and that has clearly led to raised levels of expectation amongst our fans. That's inevitable and something we have to try and live up to."

"But we know that even in League Two, the playing field isn't exactly level. That is not put up as an excuse but our last two opponents simply highlight the point. I don't think it is telling any tales to say that a significant number of the players we faced at the Moss Rose Saturday, and the previous weekend, are on double what our highest paid players are earning."

"We'd love to be able to compete with them financially but the simple fact is we can't. But what we can do and have shown already with our result against Blackpool is that we can compete on the pitch. We just need to rediscover that with a level of consistency starting this coming Saturday."

"It is a tough opening to the campaign and it isn't going to get any easier as I think eight of our first ten games are against favoured teams. That's why it is important we go to Accrington on Saturday looking to take something from the game. These are the games we have to take points from to give ourselves the best chance of progressing this season."

"Everyone is of course entitled to their opinions. That's one of the many wonderful aspects of the game. But people seem far too quickly to judge nowadays. Someone told me that he even heard a Man United fan calling a radio phone-in on Sunday expressing concern over Sir Alex's tactics. And that's just one game into the season."

"Closer to home I understand of course I understand everyone's frustrations but would ask that that we all stick together and remember we are all after the same thing, and that is to see the Silkmen climbing up the table. And that's what we are working hard each day to achieve and with the fans backing that task is made so much easier."

And Keith is certainly looking forward to Thursday night's fans' forum.

"The relationship between the fans and the club is a vital component of any long term success. That's why events like a Fans Forum are extremely important and ones I am happy to attend. I would like to think I am a fairly down to earth person and would encourage anyone who has a question to come along. All I can promise is that I will answer any put to me as honestly as possible and I look forward to the opportunity to hear what people have to say."