TOWN boss Andy King is confident his team will still cross the play-off finishing line despite suffering a painful stumble in the home straight.

Saturday's 2-1 defeat by Oldham Athletic leaves the County Ground outfit still one point short of a guaranteed top six finish.

King was distinctly unimpressed with his players but feels they have what it takes to see the job through.

Only Port Vale can dash Town's dreams but the Valiants must take maximum points from their remaining two matches and pray that King's men lose both their encounters.

King said: "They'll still do it, don't worry.

"There's enough character in the dressing room."

Defeat at the hands of the Latics was all the more painful as QPR lost and Bristol City only drew. A Town win would have made automatic promotion a real possibility.

King was annoyed that his troops had wasted a glorious opportunity to give 8,000 fans something to really sing about.

He said: "If we'd played to our potential and Oldham had played to theirs, this would have been a win and we'd be celebrating a wonderful season. It should have been a wonderful celebration. Now we have to go another week."

As for the teams breathing down Town's neck, King believes it is another crucial test for his players, adding: "Results elsewhere went against us. It's put pressure on us.

"Will they respond? We will see who stands up and gets counted."

Town will certainly not be able to blame a lack of support if they spurn their next opportunity to secure the vital point, Saturday's sell-out trip to Queens Park Rangers.

Town will be backed by a 2,900-strong travelling army against Ian Holloway's men.

There was further disappointment for Town's players last night at the PFA Awards in London.

More than a dozen Town stars were among those gathered for football's big night at the Grosvenor House Hotel.

Not one member of the squad was selected for the Division Two team of the year. Sam Parkin and Tommy Mooney had been highly tipped for selection but lost out to Brighton's Leon Knight and Blackpool's Scott Taylor.

Midfielder David Duke, speaking to the Evening Advertiser from the ceremony, said: "It's disappointing not to get at least one of our lads in the team.

"Still, it's not the be all and end all. The recognition we want will hopefully come with success in the play-offs. That's what we all want."

PFA Division Two team: Steve Phillips (Bristol City), Gino Padula (QPR), Graham Coughlan (Plymouth), Danny Cullip (Brighton), Louis Carey (Bristol City), Richie Wellens (Blackpool), David Friio (Plymouth), Brian Tinnion (Bristol City), Carlos Edwards (Wrexham), Scott Taylor (Blackpool), Leon Knight (Brighton).