LEE CLARK today surveyed Town’s slot in the League I play-off places and challenged his players: “Let’s make this our lowest position for the rest of the season.”

Clark – still waiting for scan results on striker Lee Novak’s right shoulder injury – is aiming to build on successive clean-sheet victories over Leyton Orient and Oldham when Town tackle Dagenham & Redbridge in the FA Cup first round on Friday night.

Town go into the tie in buoyant mood and with their set-piece skills also paying big dividends.

A superb Robbie Williams free-kick did the trick at Boundary Park, where Nathan Clarke’s long throw and a succession of well-delivered free-kicks and corners upped the pressure on the opposition.

“Psychologically it’s always good to see yourselves in at least the play-off positions,” said Clark, who has declined playing a behind closed doors friendly this week in the absence of any Reserve fixture.

“You talk about the top six from day one, even though it’s next May when it matters, and everyone enjoys being up there.

“It’s nice to be in the top six and the challenge now is to stay there.

“We want this to be our lowest position for the rest of the season, because we are looking at the teams above us and we’ll now be trying to push them.”

On the set pieces, Clark added: “They are a massive part of the game at every level these days.

“From international football through to our League, matches are being won and lost on set pieces – both in attack and defence.

“You have to defend them properly, which we’ve done in the last couple of games, and attacking wise it gives you something a little bit different.

“We’ve got several players who can deliver a great free-kick – either into the box or directly at goal – to add to the long throw-in threat which Nathan Clarke has got to keep the opposition under pressure.”