PORTLAND United Reserves come into their Dorset Premier League clash at Holt United in high spirits (2pm).

The Blues sit fourth in the league and performing above expectations, according to manager Justin Faulkner, who is set to take charge of his 100th game for the islanders.

His team currently sees a gap forming to Balti Sports in fifth, the Weymouth outfit lying three points behind, while Holt sit eighth, eight points adrift of Faulkner’s men.

Faulkner commented: “Holt is another big test for us, we beat them back in October which makes it harder as I’m sure they will want some revenge for that.

“We know that they have good players that are experienced, I think they will be a much different proposition on their own patch.

“All that means we need to be on our game and concentrating for 90 minutes, we need to defend well and from the front.”

Faulkner added “All season we have had goals in us.

“If we can become more solid defensively I think we give ourselves a better chance of clean sheets. We haven’t had many of them this season.

“As I’ve said before we always set up to win a game, I’m not a fan of going into games not to lose.

“We have been performing above expectations in our first season in this division.

“I’d definitely have snapped your hand off if you’d offered this position at the start of the season.

“Myself, Steve Spearing and all the players know we can’t take our foot off the gas, that’s when you get punished.”

“I’m not sure how far we can go or what is a realistic expectation at the moment but we will keep working as hard as ever, taking each game at a time.”