AS Town prepare for a heavy month of travelling, manager Lee Clark says there is no reason for his players to feel the strain.

After tomorrow's home clash with Carlisle, the Galpharm club have successive away midweek trips to Brighton, Carlisle, Tranmere and Southampton and the results will do much to shape the success or otherwise of Town's play-off promotion challenge.

Clark, however, says it's the fans rather than the squad who deserve a pat on the back for clocking up the mileage.

"It's not a problem for the staff and the squad because, thankfully, the board of directors back me in every way possible and we get looked after very well in terms of the travelling we do and the hotels we stay in - which are of Premiership quality," said the manager.

"Our thoughts are with the fans who have to make those journeys, and we thank them very, very much for the time, effort and financial outlay they make to support us up and down the country.

"We really do feel for them having to overcome all the problems that face them just to get to matches, but we really do appreciate their support on the road - it's magnificent."