Alfreton Town have high-flying Bristol Rovers in their sights

The Reds will have to shake off the effects of the lay-off, induced by their early FA Cup exit, and try to make it back-to-back wins in the league for only the third time this season, and the first since September. For a first ever game against the former Football League club, Bristol Rovers will provide stern opposition as they have embarked on a run of just one defeat in their last 12 games in all competitions, a 1-0 win at AFC Telford United last weekend pushing them into the play-off places.

However, Alfreton will have a further chance to reignite their stuttering season with a second home game following on with Dover Athletic visiting Derbyshire the following Saturday, November 15.

That game will give the Reds chance to gain revenge for a narrow 1-0 defeat in a very poor game at the Crabble back on September 29th. It was a match which manager Nicky Law described as “woeful - we were the worst of two poor teams.”

Having stopped the rot of no wins in three games with a 1-0 victory at Altrincham in their last outing last Saturday, Alfreton boss Law will be looking for his side to build on the foundations of that win which was gained by sheer hard work and discipline as well as a first goal for the club from skipper Luke Graham.

Despite the win, the Reds remain in the bottom four and Altrincham’s win at Lincoln on Tuesday night highlights just how tough it is going to be to get out and stay out of the relegation zone.

Indeed, some points return from the Bristol Rovers and Dover Athletic games is imperative as they are followed by two tough-looking away games in succession at Macclesfield Town and FC Halifax Town.

Striker Karl Hawley will miss the Bristol Rovers game as he serves the second of a three-match suspension.