ROSSENDALE United manager Derek Egan hasn't given up hope of promotion as he prepares for tomorrow's derby clash with Clitheroe at Dark Lane.
Last Saturday's emphatic 3-0 win at Wakefield keeps the Stags to within 10 points of the Division One (North) play-offs, with 14 games remaining.
Egan feels promotion may be a bridge too far, but with United having lost just one of their last 10 matches, he admits there is a small chance.
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"I really don't know if we can make the top five," said Egan.
"It might be that we've given ourselves too much to do, and that we run out of games in the end.
"But I've told the lads to keep doing what we are doing and get results. If we do that, then something might open up for us.
"However, I believe that if I'd have had this squad since the start of the season, then we'd be in the top five."
United are favourites to beat Clitheroe, who are three places above the relegation zone.
But Egan has a lot of respect for Blues boss Neil Reynolds, and praised Clitheroe for their midweek 1-1 draw at high-flying Bradford Park Avenue.
He added: "I've got a lot of time for Neil Reynolds. He's a cracking lad and we get on really well.
"They got a terrific result in midweek at Bradford.
"All the time I've been involved at Rossendale, Neil's side have always shown character, even when we've beaten them."
And Reynolds, who has signed 21-year-old right winger David Hankin from Blackpool Squires Gate, admitted it was time for the Blues to get revenge over their Dark Lane rivals.
He said: "Rossendale have been our bogey team this season. It's as though they've got some kind of curse over us.
"But I know Derek really well and I'll be doing everything I can to get one over on him because he's 2-0 up just now."
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