Mitch Not Buying The Claims That The Title Race Is Over Already

“I saw on the league website that Sutton United manager Paul Doswell said it’s all over and we’ve won it already,” said Mitch Hancox, one of the division’s most consistent defenders this season.

“It’s classic kidology, a bit of mind games maybe. You get that in every title race and it’s a big part of if all. It’s not only Sutton still in it, remember.

“We know it’s nowhere near done. We’re not looking closely at the table, we’re not really keeping an eye on who everyone else is playing. We look at results when they come in, that’s natural, but we can only effect our own games so what’s the point in worrying?

“The minute you take your eye off the ball you are in trouble.”

If Macclesfield do win at Ebbsfleet in the live BT Sport lunchtime game, then the countdown will well and truly be on.

Hancox is always in reflective mood at this time of the year, his happiest day in football - to date - came back at the end of the 2013-14 season. And on Tuesday he got a welcome reminder.

“I was a part of the Birmingham City team who pulled off an escape from relegation a few years ago,” he explained.

“We played Bolton on the last day of the season and needed a point to stay up. I came off the bench and set up a goal. It was an incredible day which will always stay with me, we scored in the 93rd minute to remain in the Championship.

“We had thousands of fans at the Reebok, and the celebrations after the full-time whistle were great.

“Birmingham played Bolton last Tuesday in the Championship and again got a crucial win. They took over 5,000 so it was nice to see the pictures. It brought it all back.

“But If we can hang on over the next few weeks then winning the National League title with Macclesfield would easily surpass that. Winning any league is the ultimate - it doesn’t matter what level, nothing comes close.

“You have to have a special bond in a group to do it. We’ve got that, and now it’s about holding our nerve.”

Hancox knows how demanding Ebbsfleet are going to make it on Saturday.

“The problem is that they need to win to get into the play-offs - playing against teams who have everything on the game as well is never easy. It’s a cup final kind of game,” he added.

“So let’s see what happens. Every game is huge from now on. We have put ourselves in a good position but we can make it even better on Saturday.

“It’s all about us now, nobody else. The spirit we have here is incredible and with a bit of luck it’s that which can get us over the finishing line.”