Football can be a mixed bag at times, but King's Lynn Town will be looking to avoid any surprises when they open the doors to Basingstoke on Tuesday night.

The Southern Premier promotion battle is in full flow, but Basingstoke have already done the Linnets what might well turn out to be a favour come the end of the season.

Just a couple of weeks ago they demonstrated their home strengths when they beat leaders Hereford. The Bulls may be four points ahead of Lynn with a game in hand, but had the game at Basingstoke gone the way many predicted, it would have made the Linnets' task even more difficult.

But such is the fickle nature of the game, Basingstoke then lost 4-1 at home to Slough on Saturday – only their third home defeat of the season. It's that inconsistency which leaves Lynn boss Ian Culverhouse with a simple message ahead of Tuesday night's clash, when his players defend a record of just one home loss this season.

'More of the same and with all of the effort and application we have seen over the season to date,' said Culverhouse, whose side's 1-0 success at Redditch at the weekend made it four wins on the bounce.

'We had to be very patient on Saturday and prise open their defence with the right delivery. Simon (Lappin) provided that with the cross and it was a lovely clean finish from Michael (Gash) who showed all of his experience in that one moment.

'We got the job done and it will be what I'm looking to do again on Tuesday.

'It was a tough afternoon down at their place in November (a 2-1 Lynn win) and they played well that day.

'They proved what they are about when they defeated Hereford the other week, but I see that slipped up at the weekend so it's going to be interesting.

'These midweek away games when you're travelling a distance can be a real headache for the players who end up having to take time off from work and arrive home at a ridiculous hour the next day. We have done it this season and it's not good, I can tell you, but it stiffened our resolve on the night and I'm sure they are not just going to turn up and go through the motions – you don't do that as a player. I'm expecting a tough evening and our resolve and resolution has to be spot on.'