Rhys Taylor says Macclesfield’s game at Alfreton had been something of a must-win six-pointer.

While neither could be wholly accurate in applying to a match against a side in 15th place, and with 15 games to go,  it shows the importance of every outing from here until the curtain falls after the home game with Cambridge in April.

And the Welsh Under-21 keeper – who had arguably his busiest 90 minutes in Macc colours – is convinced they can break into the top five – and stay there.

“We needed to beat Alfreton after the disappointing result we had last week (a dour goalless draw at Tamworth). You can call it a must-win really, it’s like six points for us.

“I did okay, you’re always going to have a few saves to make in this league, it’s bouncing around and there are always going to be chances.

“Obviously for their goal it was a good ball in but I think he was offside, I don’t think the ref had the best game. Obviously I like to give clean sheets but I’m happy with my performance.

“The pitch wasn’t the best and we’re one of the teams that tries to play a bit of football. I couldn’t just get it and ‘boom it’ but that was what they (Alfreton) were looking for, a big diagonal.

“They didn’t try to use the pitch, just the air above it, but I’m happy with the way we play football.”

With stints at Rotherham and Crewe under his belt, the former Chelsea man admits he’s happy having game-time and, for those who’ve been impressed with what they’ve seen so far, he’s hinting that there’s even better to come once he gets fitter and sharper.

“I’m happy playing games, I’ve obviously not had a pre-season,” said the 22-year-old, who joined Preston on non-contract terms last month.

“I’ve not been training, just ticking over in the gym, so I think I’m only going to get better as the weeks and the games go on.

“I’ve kind of slotted in instantly here, I don’t think it’s taken me any time.

“Normally you could say it takes a month or two for a goalkeeper and a back four but overall the players have been different class, they’ve helped me to settle in and as far as that goes we’ve got no problem.

“For me I’ve come here to play games, I’m happy at the moment and as long as I’m playing I’ll be happy.

“You never know what will happen in the future but at the moment I just want to do as well as possible for Macc.”

Doing as well as possible could yet see the club’s campaign extend into post-season action, with a top-five place still up for grabs. And with a greater physical presence and steely determination from here on, Taylor says the play-offs are well within King’s men’s grasp.

“All it takes is two wins on the bounce and you can be right up there again, as you can be in any of the lower leagues,” he insisted. “I think Tuesday night is a big game as well, if we can play against the better teams as well as we do against these we’ll have no problem.

“Because they’ll try to play football as well, with the ability we’ve got in the team I think we can pass it and rip teams to pieces if they want to try and play against us.

“We’ll beat anyone if they try to play against us but the physical side of things is a problem when they start to go long but obviously we’ve got big Pabs (Pablo Mills) at the back and he’s done well.

“He’s a big guy and you can tell he’s played a lot of football, the way he gets around the pitch.

“Thierry, playing with him, he gets good guidance too;if he’s doing something wrong Pabs can have a quiet word and he started off struggling in the first 15 minutes but he had a word and calmed him down and he had a good game from then on.

“It’s just experience at the end of the day, and that’s what you need.”