DEFENDER Mark Smith reckons Worcester City’s title fate will be decided amid the muck and bullets of a cold, hard winter in the Midland League.

The two-time Premier Division winner, signed from champions Alvechurch in the summer, highlighted the need for clean sheets as fallen-giants City bid to begin their climb back up the non-league pyramid.

The centre-half issued his rallying cry in the wake of Saturday’s 4-3 FA Vase victory at Boldmere St Michaels, a topsy-turvy match that could have slipped from Worcester’s grasp.

But with plenty of experience in their ranks ex-Stratford and Halesowen linchpin Smith remains steadfast that his colleagues have what it takes to grind out results when it really matters.

“You have to keep clean sheets and the goals against down,” said Smith whose side will host Shepshed Dynamo on Saturday (3pm).

“Alvechurch only conceded 33 last season which shows you have to go out and get those 1-0s away from home on nasty Tuesday nights when it is wet and horrible.

“When you can score, great, but even when we got a few against Quorn we managed to shut them out at the other end as well. That made it the perfect result.

“Then you look at the Lye game when we went up against a big, tough, physical unit and came away with a good win because we kept them out.

“Boldmere was a bad day at the office defensively. We let ourselves down on a lot of set-pieces and as a team we take that personally so we have highlighted that as something to improve on.

“I know the gaffer (joint boss John Snape) is still working on bringing players in, trying to replace one or two and make sure we have those experienced heads in but we definitely have enough in the squad and I think we’ll be right up there.”

Smith revealed how new bosses Snape and Lee Hughes had a different approach to Ian Long, his boss at Tividale and Alvechurch where he scooped his two Midland League crowns.

“I am enjoying my time here,” added Smith. “The lads are brilliant, so is the management and having Lee about is good for the dressing room too.

“Snapper and Ian Long have their differences. Ian is very serious and likes his lads to make sure they’re on it 100 per cent of the time. Snapper is the same but goes about it in a more relaxed way.

“Ian takes the bull by the horns quite a lot, they both have their merits and the way we are doing things is working well for us.

“I have worked under so many managers over the years and you just have to adapt to their styles.

"I worked with Ian for four or five years and had real success. I just hope I can do the same here.”