Blues assistant Gavin MacPherson has not given up hope of reaching the Ryman Premier League play-offs, but admits his team may need a miracle run to get there.

Met Police crashed 4-2 at new league leaders East Thurrock United on Tuesday night to nip a three-match unbeaten run in the bud and leave them 12 points off the pace for fifth place.

Of the top five, boss Jimmy Cooper’s men only play East Thurrock and Tonbridge Angels between now and the end of the season.

MacPherson believes his men have a chance - but only a faint one.

“We are outsiders, there is no question about that,” he said.

“We probably need to win 10 of our remaining 14 games - championship winning form - and we are capable of that.

“Apart from East Thurrock and Tonbridge, all our other games are against teams below us, but that guarantees nothing.”

Centre back Steve Sutherland’s absence on holiday in Sweden was partly to blame for Tuesday’s reverse, but MacPherson thought his men may have been beaten by the champions-in-waiting.

“They are so potent up front. You give them half a chance and they score,” he added.

“But they are vulnerable at the back. Their approach is to score more than they concede and in some people’s books that is a recipe to win the title.

“There is a lot of football to be played and I have been impressed by Hampton & Richmond Borough, Dulwich Hamlet and Tonbridge.

"It will go right to the wire.”

Burgess Hill Town are the visitors on Saturday.