Darren Williams will not rule out a play-off push from City this season but admitted: Christmas is critical for us.

Saturday's home derby against Rotherham is the first of five games over the holiday period which will have a huge say on whether Stuart McCall's side can begin to justify the hype.

Williams, who went up from League Two with Hartlepool last year, knows City must make major Yuletide gains to force their way back up the leading pack as they currently sit ten points adrift of the last play-off spot.

He said: "The Christmas period is a vital time for us. We're playing a lot of teams near the top of the league so it's a big chance to make up some ground and we've got to take it.

"I think reaching the play-offs is a realistic aim for us. At Hartlepool last year we had started off slowly but put together a good run and ending up being promoted.

"And look at Bristol Rovers, who were down the bottom at Christmas and you wouldn't have given them a chance. Then they went on a great run, beat us on the last game of the season to get in the play-offs and went up at Wembley.

"The play-offs are not a million miles away for us. They are in our sights - but we've got to go out and make sure we justify that. It's pointless talking about them if we don't do the business on a Saturday."

McCall has criticised his team over their lowly current position and says they will have to "overachieve" for the rest of the campaign.

Right back Williams agrees City have not done themselves justice but can see an improvement from a run of only one loss in their last eight league games.

"We did underachieve at the start of the season but I thought that might happen because of the changes with the manager coming in and a lot of new players," he said.

"It takes time to adjust and gel together but I think we've gradually got there bit by bit. There have been a few speed bumps along the road but hopefully it's going to be a good run-in for us now."

Rotherham's own ten-match unbeaten run was shot down by last week's shock 4-2 home loss to Rochdale, ending a run of seven straight wins that had lifted them into the promotion positions.

Williams said: "It's a division where you can't predict a result. There are always games that surprise you, like the Rotherham one last week and Wycombe letting in six at Stockport. It's inevitable other teams will slip up.

"Rotherham have shown what you can do when you get on a winning run. They strung some good results together and suddenly are right up there in the table.

"A run like that puts you in good stead for the second half of the season, which is why it's so important that we pick up points over Christmas."

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