CALUM MCINTYRE says an improvement in Chester’s away form is required if they are to be around the National League North play-off picture heading into 2025.

The Blues, who lost out 1-0 at Darlington in midweek, are on their travels once more tomorrow, with Needham Market their destination.

Chester sit in 12th spot after that loss and McIntyre stressed the key for the next two months was to “remain competitive for that seventh place spot”.

McIntyre told Chester FC TV: “We need to find a formula, because we’ve been alright in the calendar year away.

“I think that’s dipped away in recent weeks. Generally, in my time here, we’ve been okay away.

“We’re not winning enough games away from home. We’re not keeping enough clean sheets.

“We are in home games. Our home record’s been there-or-thereabouts for the division, but away from home we need to improve.

“The reason I say that being so important... is we go to Needham Market on Saturday.

“We then go to Gainsborough in the trophy. We go to Leamington on the Tuesday.

“We’ve got Warrington at the end of the month.

“The ability to pick points up - and I don’t mean points in isolation, singular points - I mean the ability to win games away from home is going to dictate whether it’s a good month.

“A good month will decide what December looks like and where we are then at Christmas, you’ll get a good feel after playing everyone.”

Other fixtures: Brackley v Darlington; Chorley v Leamington; Hereford v Marine; Kidderminster v Farsley; Oxford City v Scarborough; Radcliffe v Rushall; Scunthorpe v Buxton; South Shields v King’s Lynn; Southport v Peterborough Sports; Spennymoor v Curzon Ashton; Warrington v Alfreton.