Steve McKimm speaks about Tonbridge's relegation tussle with Welling and backs James Taylor for new Crystal Palace contract

Steve McKimm believes both sides will be nervous when Tonbridge host bottom side Welling in a relegation battle.

Angels suffered their first defeat in four games last weekend, conceding an injury-time winner in a 4-3 defeat at Hemel.

They’re only three points clear of the Wings going into Saturday’s meeting at Longmead, albeit with a game in hand, which takes place at Hampton on Tuesday night.

“The next nine are big games because that’s all we’ve got left to try and stay in the position we're in, or finish higher, and be OK for next year,” said boss McKimm.

“The Welling game is our biggest game because it’s the next one, then Hampton will be our biggest game, then Chelmsford.

"Our next game is always going to be our biggest, whether it’s now or in three weeks’ time, because of the position we’re in.

“The boys haven’t been doing too bad. I’d imagine both sides will be nervous on Saturday and we’ll both be going for the win because draws aren’t much use to anybody.

"Long-term they might be but not at the moment because everyone’s winning so you’ve got to get three points to keep up with them or leave them behind.

"It’s important we go win for wins, home and away, because draws sometimes don’t help you.

"We drew with Braintree and Concord before Hemel and if we’d won one and lost one instead of two draws, we’d be better off.

"There’s 27 points to play for and we need as many as we can.”

Teddy Perkins and a James Taylor double saw Angels fight back three times at Hemel - who finished with nine men - only to concede at the death.

It was a cruel way to lose but McKimm was philosophical in defeat.

“We’ve won two or three in the 90th-plus minute this season and the teams we’ve beaten will reflect on how they’ve let the goal in,