ANDY BOOTH accepts Town are going through a highly frustrating spell.

Mistakes are being punished and points dropped and it's damaging the club's chances of moving swiftly back up the League I table.

The 31-year-old has no doubt, however, that Town's future is in good hands.

While Booth may be coming to the end of his own Town career - one which puts him among the club's all-time favourite sons - he believes the young players coming through will prove capable of moving to the next level.

"We've got lads getting a chance now who are going to be around for the next five or six years at least - and that's fantastic news for the club," said Booth, who will be sidelined for another couple of weeks because of the groin injury which forced him off after scoring against MK Dons last Saturday.

"When you look at the defence we ended up playing last weekend, the average age was 19 and they all did exceptionally well.

"We already know all about Nathan Clarke, but Tom Clarke stepped up and did well, Adnan Ahmed dropped in there at left-back and John McCombe went into the centre and did a great job.

"The lads did absolutely superbly and it's very encouraging for the future, especially when you consider the players we've got who weren't available for one reason or another.

"We've got a good squad here, but the results we want just aren't happening for us at the moment.

"I don't think we are getting much luck with crucial decisions, but we will keep going.

"There are 14 matches left to play and a lot of points to go for if we can get on a run.

"Just one win could kick us off and, having been on a tremendous run at one stage last season, there's no reason why we can't do it again."

Booth has been happy with his form at the head of the line - his goal at the National Hockey Stadium was the 139th of his career and the 106th for Town - but he's unhappy with the injury problems which keep knocking him back.

"I felt really fit when I recovered from my ankle injury, but it just seems to have been one of those stop-start seasons for me and it's really annoying when you feel you're playing quite well," he said.

"Last week it was just another something-and-nothing injury. I was going okay and then I felt my groin just niggling. It turns out to be a small tear.

"There's nothing you can do about it, but it is frustrating when you are enjoying playing alongside a couple of goalscorers in Pawel Abbott and Luke Beckett.

"Luke has been in great form with five in five and it's brilliant that we've been able to keep him.

"At one stage it looked like he'd done too well for us and that Sheffield United would want him back, but it's a bonus for us to be able to keep him for another month.

"Pav is suspended after his booking last week, but he's just one goal away from 20 for the season and that's good form in anyone's book."

Booth believes Abbott has many more seasons of solid goalscoring in him and that all Town's young players will benefit from the experience of this season - albeit largely frustrating.

"The lads are learning all the time and enjoying their football," he said.

"Playing matches at this level is all good experience for them and, for 17, 18 and 19-year-old lads to be getting a chance in the first team is great.

"Like last week, no-one enjoyed losing at the end of the day, but it was miserable weather in a ground with barely any atmosphere and they will learn from that 90 minutes.

"It was a tester, but I think they all came through it really well and it was just a shame about the result."

Booth's first-half diving header was wiped out by Izale McLeod and a last-minute strike from Clive Platt.

"It was a pity we didn't get at least a point, because we deserved one point if not all three," he added.

"The offside decision against John McCombe from Pawel Abbott's header has changed the whole face of the game.

"If we had gone ahead at that stage I'm sure we would have held on for a win, but the decision went against us and it gave MK Dons a lift - because none of their players were looking at the linesman when the ball went in, they just thought it was a goal. No-one complained.

"It was like that for the Dons first goal as well, which we thought was two or three yards offside, and when things like that go against you, it makes life hard.

"We will keep going, though, and we'll look to pick up as many points as we can in the games to come."