BRIAN Pritchard believes that Witton can play without pressure when table-toppers Chorley visit this weekend.

Albion remain four points from safety in the Premier Division table following Tuesday’s win at home to Nantwich, a position they have occupied since Christmas.

But the manager said expectation rests with the Mapgies after they lost unexpectedly in midweek.

“Nobody expects us to win on Saturday,” he said.

“I’ll tell the players not to worry because Chorley come will come here with question marks against them after what happened to them against Rushall.

“That’s not an attempt at mind games because it’s a fact – look at the league table.”

Pritchard praised his side for resisting a recovery by the Dabbers on Tuesday, when Witton’s three-goal advantage was reduced to one by the final whistle.

He told the Guardian the hosts’ victory was richly-deserved following a fine first half display.

“We played like a team possessed in the first half,” he added.

“The lads were up for it, and gave everything for 90 minutes.

“I don’t care about it ending 3-2, because winning mattered much more than the performance.

“The fact that we played well, and how I expect us to play more often, is a bonus.

“I hope we sent out a message to the rest of the league that we won’t be folding; the spirit is strong within a group that showed a lot of resolve to hold on when Nantwich came back into the game later on.”

Like everybody else, Pritchard was also happy to see Alex Titchiner score for the first time since returning to the club earlier this month.

The front man netted twice in a 20-minute spell before the break, the first a stunning goal from outside of the penalty area to end a wait to celebrate dating back to April last year.

“The swerve on his shot for the first was unbelievable,” said Pritchard.

“To score has done him the world of good, and don’t forget it was his assist for Josh Hancock when we went 3-0 up.”

Witton will be without injured duo Cliff Moyo (hamstring) and Dave Walker (hernia) tomorrow, while striker Neville Thompson has been given permission to sign for a club in the Evo-Stik Northern Premier League’s second tier.

To read a preview on tomorrow's game, click here: http://bit.ly/1kgwnXd