MACC Town boss Paul Ince predicts that this season's League Two survivors will be the teams with the strongest and bravest squads.
As his side prepare for Friday night's trip to Mansfield, Ince knows that the destiny of the teams around the bottom of the table is not yet decided, and that the troubled teams will experience several highs and lows before this season is out.
"There were quite a few different emotions at the end of the Bury game, having taken a point, but we felt we'd created enough chances to be two or three up. On that evidence we're disappointed that we didn't take all three.
"Dave Morley went up late on to try and snatch something and it was a point away from home but it meant we dropped a place because Accrington won," said Ince.
"We're getting to the stage where everyone's getting jittery and it's going to be the bravest and strongest teams' players that will be the ones to stay in this league."
The character and nerve that Ince refers to was personified by Kevin McIntyre on Saturday.
With eight already to his name this season, the spot-kick king defied an irate Gigg Lane crowd, stepping up in the fifth minute of injury-time to rescue a point.
His manager was pleased at the character shown: "Kevin was absolutely fantastic. When you look at the situation and it being the last kick of the game, he was great. Nothing phases him."
With a squad hit by three long-term injuries and a number of other absentees, Ince may have to bring in new faces before the loan deadline closes on Thursday.
He told the Express: "I'm trying to get a look at a couple of players I'm looking at bringing in, although I know I haven't got long.
"It will be good if I can get a couple in, just to help freshen up the squad."
