Taylor wants more

King's Lynn boss Tommy Taylor upped the ante with his British Gas Business, Southern League Premier Division pacesetters ahead of today's tussle with second-placed Mangotsfield.

The Linnets moved top of the league goal charts after demolishing Hemel Hempstead 5-1 in midweek.

Taylor the perfectionist now wants to pull down the defensive shutters after only one clean sheet in the last nine.

"I want clean sheets," he demanded. "Defenders have to do their jobs and we are letting our concentration slip at times. It's fine when you are 5-0 up but later down the line we might be in a tight game and letting one in could cost us points."

Taylor also wants cool heads after Adam Jones' early red card in last year's corresponding fixture put the hosts on the back foot.

"Jonah was a bit silly - he got himself sent off and we had to play the top-of-the-table side with ten men for an hour," said Taylor. "I don't think we'll make the same mistake. The experienced lads have a big part to play in these type of games.

"It's massive to get another three points. Not just to keep that gap at the top but because we go into a fortnight's league break with our cup games. The last thing you want is to come back and find we've slipped down to third."

Mark Camm is poised to partner skipper Mark Warren at centre back with Grant Cooper (ribs) doubtful. Shaun Marshall (ankle) and Alex Notman (foot) are set to feature after missing Shaun Carey's benefit match against Norwich City.

"Coops is 99 per cent out of the game," said Taylor. "He rang me on Thursday and reckoned he wouldn't be fit. Shaun had the ankle heavily strapped at Hemel so it's a case of being guided by the player.

"Alex should be fine. He was very honest with me and said he wouldn't be fit for Norwich even though he was desperate to face his old club. The lad was superb at Hemel - his match sharpness is coming on all the time."

Taylor will keep new recruit Rob Norris in reserve if Notman is passed fit. The Linnets' boss must also decide who partners in-form hitman Jack Defty.

"I've got three centre forwards but only two can play," said Taylor. "Jack is the top goalscorer so it's really who you put alongside him. Both Michael (Frew) and Matty (Nolan) are good options. It's a tough one."

Taylor is confident Frew will reject the chance to join midfielder Luke Kennedy at Stamford after the Daniels launched a seven-day raid.

Lynn's boss has dropped his interest in Corby midfielder Steve Towers but held further talks with ex-St Albans front man Josh Sozzo.

"Josh is not going to be rushed," said Taylor. "The lad's just lost his job and his wife gave birth the other day so football is not a priority. I've made him an offer and told him we can't go a penny higher. Nuneaton are also interested and I know they'll have a decent budget so we'll see. The Corby lad is a no goer - they've put him on contract and we don't pay money for players."

Mangotsfield boss Lee Howells is without long term casualties Tom Gould (knee ligaments), Gary Horgan (broken leg) and Ryan Dorrian (knee). Goalkeeper Steve Book (hand) is out until the end of this month.

King's Lynn (from): Marshall, Higgs, West, Harvey, Smith, Warren, Gaughran, Camm, McMahon, Fry, C Defty, Notman, J Defty, Nolan, Frew, O'Halloran, Norris.

Injured Linnets midfielder Shaun Carey's benefit match against Norwich City at The Walks on Wednesday raised more than £4,000. Carey is recovering from surgery after breaking his leg in two places during Lynn's Southern League win over Corby Town on September 5.