Feel Good Factor Is Just What Fylde's Philliskirk Needs

Two months on, the revitalised Coasters head down to the Hive this weekend for a televised date with Barnet - their 4-0 home thumping earlier in the season still ringing in their ears.

A lot has changed since then. Jim Bentley arrived with an early New Year's resolution - shut the back door.

And with five clean sheets in their last six outings, they're keeping to their new routine pretty well.

"Long may it continue," Philliskirk told us. "One of the problems we were struggling with is that we were conceding too many goals and in the last few games we’ve kept five clean sheets.

"We’re one of those teams where if we keep a clean sheet, I fancy us to always score so that’s the main positive.

"I think Barnet are one of the best footballing teams in the league, they battered us earlier in the season so hopefully we can go there and avenge that performance.

"We know we’re in a better place than we were on that day and hopefully we can get the result and push on. I like going to Barnet," he added. "I scored there last season so hopefully I can do it again."

Splitting with long-term boss Dave Challinor was never going to be easy for anyone at Mill Farm.

It might pain fans to admit it, but with the Coasters heading up the National League table and ready to take on Premier League Sheffield United, the feel-good factor has returned.

"Under Challinor we were underachieving and as a group we knew we should have been doing better," Philliskirk said. "We’re part responsible for what happened. But since the new gaffer has come in, he’s brought a fresh feel in and a new philosophy.

"It’s a fresh start for everyone and everybody is chomping at the bit to be playing. He’s come in with a positive energy and the staff have all been brilliant and now we’re picking up some good results.

"Chally did a great job here but sometimes when a new manager comes in with new ideas, people buy into it. We’ve all bought into what Jim's been about since he’s arrived."

So can are the play-offs out of the question for the Coasters?

You must be joking, says Philliskirk.

"We’re taking it one step at a time. First and foremost, we need to pull away from the bottom four because we shouldn’t be there.

"But that’s where we are. Now we’ve got some important games coming up over Christmas and if we can put a few results together then who knows?

"There’s always a team that seems to come from nowhere and they build momentum and confidence late on. That’s what we’ve been doing lately – you can’t always play pretty and nice, we’ve shown we can win ugly too."