Skipper wanted more from Tynesiders draw

Victory would have secured a top five spot and Pilkington said: “Any other time in the season it would be a good point up here.

“It’s a hard place to come but in the grand scheme of things and the way the game went, we could have done more to push on and get that winning goal.

“On reflection it’s probably a fair result, but like I say we wanted more.”

The result means that Town need just a draw from Saturday’s 1pm kick-off at Fleetwood to secure a play-off place, while Kidderminster Harriers must beat Mansfield at home and hope that Luton lose to usurp the Hatters.

Keeper Mark Tyler was philosophical about the result, saying: “It was a hard game, it always is here. They are a good quality side. I think we dug in and we are on a good roll defensively and we wanted to continue that.

“I think we probably had the best chances but didn’t take them.

“It is another point closer to the play-offs and we have to go to Fleetwood now and will be all guns blazing to hopefully get the right result.

“The gaffer rightly had a go at us because we weren’t on our game.

“The pitch was bobbly so our passing wasn’t as fluid as it has been the last few games.”

New boss Paul Buckle shared their views, but admitted his side have to do even more now the season is reaching its climax.

He said: “I think if it had been earlier in the season it might have been a very good point. With the games running out we are disappointed because we came here to win the game.

“We knew if we won the rewards were great. It didn’t happen but I have to be happy in the end with a point, it’s another clean sheet.

“The pitch was poor, it’s not an excuse, it was poor. I think they played it a lot better than us and a team with nothing to play for can be dangerous whereas maybe we looked a touch nervy.

“But the players have given me an incredible amount of effort over the last five games.

“To be undefeated is excellent. It just shows you how tough this league is. These are the sort of places you’ve got to come and got to dig in and do whatever it takes to get the win.”

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