FIT-AGAIN Martin McIntosh today promised the fans Town will power back to top form this Christmas.

The 34-year-old returned as a substitute for the first time in almost four months during Saturday's goalless Galpharm draw against Southend.

The result marked Town's worst sequence of the season - two points from nine - and dropped them out of the automatic promotion placings on goal difference, but McIntosh is confident it's only a blip.

"To be talking of two points from three games being our worst run at this stage of the season isn't too bad," said the knee injury victim, conscious of how well Peter Jackson's side have done so far.

"Obviously we would have liked more points recently, but we are still in a really good position and if we can get a solid Christmas and New Year under our belts we can kick on from there.

"This holiday period is very, very important to us with four games in eight days and it's an opportunity for us to put some points between us and the chasing group.

"It's a testing schedule, but I think we'll be fine because we've got a young, fit squad with plenty of ability who will be able to cope with the damands of all these games."

While Town, with only two wins from eight in League I, were held by Steve Tilson's injury-hit side in front of the division's biggest crowd of the day (11,223), only new second-placed side Brentford and fourth-placed Colchester of the leading pack managed to win.

"We were disappointed we couldn't win, but Southend showed us a lot of respect by defending deep and packing midfield and they were very hard to break down," said McIntosh.

"It was frustrating not to make more chances, too, but perhaps the final ball wasn't as good as our usual high standard and that didn't help matters."

Town were booed by some fans at half time and at the end.

"The crowd got a bit frustrated but I didn't think they were too hard on us," added Tosh.

"The fans were frustrated and so were the players, I can guarantee everyone that.

"But it's hard for supporters to be patient when their team are being frustrated at home and we appreciate that."