CHIPPENHAM Town manager Mark Collier predicts that Frome Town will not carry the tag of relegation fodder for much longer after his Bluebirds were beaten at their local rivals on Saturday.

Three previous clashes between Chippenham and the Robins this season had already been tight affairs and the latest encounter at Badgers Hill proved no different as Frome edged out Collier’s men 1-0 courtesy of George Miller’s second-half strike.

Collier admitted that too many of his troops weren’t up to scratch against the Robins and after their second defeat in three defeats, says that it’s up to his high-flying side to concentrate on getting back on track as soon as possible, after missing the chance to go top of the table again.

“We got exactly what we deserved, really. We had too many players that weren’t at their best and we didn’t deserve anything,” said the Chippenham manager.

“We know that it happens sometimes. The players were all in high spirits and we arrived there looking to get three points, as we always do, but we’ve lost the game and we’re very disappointed.

“We’ve only really created half-chances. We knew that it was a derby and we knew that there wouldn’t be much in it but Frome played the conditions a lot better than we did.

“They dealt with the wind and rain much better than we did and they’ve managed to work an opportunity and get themselves a goal – credit to them and I don’t think they’ll be in the relegation zone for much longer.

“Towards the end of the game, we had three-and-a-half men up front to try and rescue something but that way of playing is foreign to us and we weren’t able to get back anything.

“We’ve lost two of the last three games now but we don’t have a match in midweek, meaning that we can just concentrate on getting ready for Stratford next Saturday.

“Every team goes through bad periods and we’re like any other side. We know that any team can beat anyone else in this league and it’s up to us to put together a better performance against Stratford.”

Collier is only expecting to have one player unavailable for the Bluebirds’ home clash with Stratford Town next weekend.

The Bluebirds boss said: “Harry Grant was back in the matchday 17 and Andy Sandell came through the game with his back problem, so the only one we should have missing is Matt Smith after his red card against Kettering.”