TAUNTON Town manager Ian Jones accepts his side have a lot of work to do if they are to avoid the drop in Division One South and West of the British Gas Business League.

Despite losing just one of their last five, the Peacocks are fourth from bottom and can be caught by Bracknell and Andover, who have games in hand. Two sides are relegated at the end of the season.

Jones said: “The league table doesn’t lie – we’re still in trouble.

“It’s going to take a lot of hard work to get out of it and we’ve got a very difficult run ahead.”

Taunton are away to Cinderford Town on Saturday and host Totton next Wednesday (7.45pm) before games against Beaconsfield and Windsor and Eton – all sides chasing automatic promotion or the play-offs.

However, Jones is optimistic Taunton can pull themselves out of trouble.

He said: “I know we’re good enough to stay out of the bottom two.

“If we play to our potential we will certainly pick up enough points.

“The sides above look like being dragged back and there’s no reason why we can’t catch them.”

A major obstacle to survival could yet be suspensions. Skipper Scott Thomas was sent off for the fourth time this season during Saturday’s 3-1 defeat at Thatcham Town.

That was the sides 12th red card of the season, and the influential defender faces a four-match lay-off, starting on March 14.

Striker Leon Simpson completes a two game suspension on Saturday, while the versatile Luke Cole and centre-back Owen Irish begin one and three-game suspensions, respectively.

Frontman Twaine Plummer and midfielder Leroy Swabey, a recent signing from Bitton, are almost certain to be ruled out of the Cinderford trip with injury after being involved in a car accident in Bristol last week.

Alex Pounde is still a doubt due to a fractured cheekbone, but Darren Grabham and Nick McCootie return to the squad.