“OLD-SCHOOL” Portland United manager Kyle Critchell has refused to get carried away with the Blues’ league position of seventh.

Critchell’s men have taken 22 points from 12 games in the Velocity Wessex League Premier Division and six 16 points adrift of leaders Shaftesbury with four games in hand.

Blues beat Fareham Town 1-0 on Saturday and form part of a hugely competitive upper midfield pack.

However, Critchell insisted he is too battle-weary from the past to begin dreaming of the top five, and therefore the play-offs.

He told Echosport: “We’re definitely exceeding where we thought we were going to be.

READ MORE: Portland United 1-0 Fareham Town - report

“It’s looking good and we won’t take our foot off the pedal.

“I’m one of those ones who’s old-school. I think it’s because I’ve been in so many relegation battles in my own playing career, that I don’t like games in hand.

“Hopefully in each game we try and improve on our last performances. We’ve got some tough fixtures coming up and we’re excited for them.”

Blues hosts Andover New Street on Saturday (3pm).