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Jim Bentley has reiterated to his AFC Fylde players that they will have to deal with teams raising their game against them this season.

The Coasters suffered their first National League North defeat of the season last midweek, going down 2-0 at Curzon Ashton.

The postponement of last Saturday’s trip to York City after a positive Covid-19 test for one of the home players denied Bentley’s squad an immediate chance to atone.

Instead, they have had a week to get it out of their system before travelling to Leamington tomorrow night (7.45pm).

AFC Fylde manager Jim Bentley Picture: Steve McLellan

Having been within 90 minutes of the EFL 18 months ago, Fylde’s oft-stated Football League ambitions and full-time status makes them something of a scalp for the other teams in the division.

Bentley said: “From our point of view, we know where we need to improve.

“We’ve been doing alright and we’re there to be shot at. You can see that with the games that we’re playing, teams are raising their game because we were in the National League last year.

“Because we’re a full-time outfit and one of the favourites, we’ve got to overcome that but it is what it is.”

Fylde will go into tomorrow’s game second in the table, seven points behind Gloucester City but with two games in hand.

Though disappointed to lose at Curzon, Bentley cautioned against any overreaction to that result.

“We weren’t going to go right through the season winning every game,” he said.

“You can still lose a couple of games, be right at the top end and be successful, and that’s what we’re aiming to do.

“We’ve had a good conversation. It’s our first taste of defeat in the league so we take it on the chin and we have to make sure we respond in the right manner – not feel sorry for ourselves – and be positive.

“Our next game is Tuesday so it’s all systems go and trying to bounce back and get back on track as quickly as we can.”

Fylde have also confirmed a rearranged date for their home game with Boston United.

The original meeting should have taken place on November 14, only to be called off when a Boston player tested positive for Covid-19.

The rearranged match at Mill Farm will now take place this Saturday, November 28 (3pm).

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AFC Fylde manager sends a warning to his squad