I BELIEVE we are still in a very strong position to go up automatically, although we need to tighten things in defence. Do you agree? Mick, Huddersfield

Jacko says: WHEN we won those three games on the trot last month we kept successive clean sheets.

I have said throughout the season that we've not kept enough clean sheets.

For entertainment value, we are among the top scorers away from home in League I and, here at the Galpharm, we have scored 11 goals in our last three matches, conceding just three.

We have no problems going forward - I believe we've got goals in us every time we play - but I agree we could do with some more clean sheets.

With our style of play, we are sometimes liable to get caught on the break and that's probably why we haven't had the number of clean sheets we would ideally like.

If we'd kept say five more clean sheets, we would probably be as good as promoted by now.

As for the promotion race, I agree that we have set our stall out and we're in a very good position.

I know the others will be fancying their chances as well, but I really do believe we can go up automatically and that confidence is reflected among the squad.

When we pass well and play well, we are the best side in this division - no-one can live with us.

I genuinely believe that and it's why we are in such a good position.

I'm still disappointed we didn't come away from Vale Park with all three points and, when the players came off the field, we were all a little bit deflated.

When the other results came through, though, we realised it was a good point and, come the end of the season, it could be an invaluable point.

THERE'S been much talk about Jon Worthington's disciplinary record. What do you like about him as a midfielder and your captain and how much will we miss him when he gets banned? Trevor, Brighouse

Jacko says: WORTHY is a tremendous character both on and off the field.

He has really developed in the role since I appointed him captain, he's a good organiser of the players and he is always on at them during matches.

I really like the way he drives people on and the way he wants the team to get forward and attack and, to be honest, I think he is vastly underrated by a lot of our supporters.

Week in, week out, I know Jon Worthington will give 110%.

I'm fortunate that my players will give everything for the cause and not one of them can be faulted in that department, but I know the captain will give that much and more.

He's well respected among the players, too, which means they will follow him into any battle.

WOULD it be better for Jon Worthington to get booked now and serve his ban in the regular season, rather than missing the play-offs? Jenny, Meltham

Jacko says: HOPEFULLY we won't be involved in the play-offs because we will have gone up automatically!

Worthy knows he is on a knife-edge with 14 bookings and it's unfortunate, with the position he plays and the competitive nature he has, that he's always going to be on the end of some yellow cards in a season.

He's sitting on the verge of a three-match ban and all we can do is keep our fingers crossed he doesn't get booked again.

I'm not going to ask him to change his game and we have to face the fact that there's no good time for someone like Worthy to be suspended.

We will just have to live with it if it happens.

I HAVE never seen a more blatant penalty than the foul on Boothy at Port Vale. Is there nothing the club can do to complain about a decision when it is so obviously wrong? John, Dewsbury

Jacko says: THERE is nothing we can do about it.

I agree it was blatant, and I can't remember the last time I saw one so clear-cut. I have watched the video numerous times and it's so obvously a penalty it's untrue.

Andy Booth is not one to dive in any case, but he had no reason to go down in that situation. He had knocked the ball past the keeper and if he hadn't been fouled he would have had an open goal.

The picture in the Examiner, too, was conclusive proof that the referee got it wrong.

You just hope, at the end of the season, that it doesn't prove to be a very big decision against us.

WHAT are your thoughts on cheating, like diving and handball, and do you tell your players not to do it? Karen, Netherton

Jacko says: I'VE got an honest group of players at this club and I don't think any of them are renowned for diving and the like.

We do talk to the players about disciplinary matters and, overall, they have very good habits.

Certain situations might throw up something which is controversial but, in general, my players are honest, hard-working lads who are not cheats.

In fact, perhaps they are too honest at times when you see some of the histrionics our opposition get away with - players rolling around after our lads have tackled them.

If my players do that, they are injured. We don't have people in our squad who stay down faking injury.

WHY did you risk playing Martin McIntosh at Port Vale if he was struggling during the warm-up? Jez, Kirkburton

Jacko says: TOSH felt a bit of a niggle and told us about it.

But he felt, after some stretching and running, that he was okay.

Sometimes these things happen and, once a player is warmed up, they are fine to play - it's just a niggle which wears off.

On this occasion, that wasn't the case and, unfortunately, we were forced to lose him early on.

It was a big disappointment, but at least David Mirfin went on and had a really solid game.

Mirf will get the chance to start against Barnsley tomorrow and he'll be determined to do well and to keep his place for the run-in.