ALEX Titchiner is confident Witton can recover from a forgettable Easter to pick up the points they need to avoid being relegated.

Despite the fact a difficult-looking run-in starts on Saturday with a visit from title favourites FC United of Manchester, unbeaten in the Northern Premier League’s top flight since November, he insists Albion can survive.

“We’ve got tough games coming up,” he said.

“Everybody has been talking about getting to 50 points to finish the job, but why should we stop there? Can we not go further, and finish strongly?

“We believe we can get to that target before going to Stamford for the final game.

“There’s definitely pressure, and we wouldn’t be telling the truth if we said we didn’t feel it.

“But we’re a close group, and the manager has done everything to ensure we stay calm.”

And Witton have an added incentive to perform this weekend following a disastrous defeat, during which they conceded three goals in the first nine minutes, against FC United in the return game back in November.

Titchiner said: “Lads look for this fixture before the season starts because it’s one they want to play in.

“Of course the way we rolled over at their place is at the back of our mind, and we want to put one over on them. It’s up to us to rise to the occasion.

“I know there’s been a rivalry between the two clubs over the past few seasons, and this is another game between us with a lot riding on it; we’re fighting for survival, and they want to win the title.

“It will spur us on to delay their party if we can.”

Titchiner, who has scored 11 goals in league and cup this term, told the Guardian that Witton’s players had to take responsibility for their performances in damaging defeats against Whitby and then Nantwich last weekend.

He said: “Collectively we didn’t play as we’d been asked. There was a game-plan, but it wasn’t followed.

“We’ve gifted goals to our opponents in both games, and when you do that if feels as if you’re running uphill trying to recover.

“I think people have focused on those two games more because we’ve lost to teams close to us in the table.

“Before that, we’d been on a good run and shown the quality we have.

“We don’t go out to lose on purpose, nobody wants to put in a shocking performance.

“It’s difficult when you’re accused of not being bothered or not trying. I can assure you that’s definitely not the case.

“You go home after a defeat and mull it over, often not being able to sleep.”

Asked to deliver a message to Witton’s supporters, the 23-year-old called for unity.

He added: “When Wittoners are behind their team, they’re the best supporters I’ve played in front of.

“But when the atmosphere is negative, it does transfer to the pitch and the team.

“Everybody needs to be together.”