Manager Ian Evatt was pleased with how his midfield three of John Rooney, Tom White and Lewis Hardcastle repeatedly won the ball back high up the pitch against Aldershot Town.

The Bluebirds were able to keep themselves on the front foot during their 1-0 win against the Shots at Holker Street last Saturday by pressing the visitors into losing possession in their own half.

It's that sort of workrate that is one of the reasons why AFC lead the National League by three points going into their clash at fellow promotion contenders Solihull Moors a week on Saturday.

Rooney and Hardcastle were already aware of what Evatt asks from them in the middle of the park, but it is impressive how quickly White has got up to speed since arriving on loan from Blackburn three weeks ago.

Evatt said: "They're very good players, with the way they dominate the ball, they receive the ball in tight areas and they're brave in possession. The way they they control the pace of the game is important for us.

"They're all very good midfielder players and we've got Jason Taylor, who's been off with flu, waiting to come back in as well, so there's good competition for places.

"We work a lot on transitions and out of possession we work hard on getting the person nearest to press the ball with intensity and pace and once we win it back in the final third, we need to be clinical in our decision-making."