WORCESTER City manager John Barton believes this season's Dr Martens League Premier Division title race could be one of the most open for years.

Unlike the last two seasons when Nuneaton and Boston respectively won the title by a country mile, no team has shown signs of breaking away from the rest.

And City, even allowing for their inconsistent start this season are only six points behind leaders Crawley Town -- meaning they could become genuine title contenders if they can string a run of results together.

The topsy-turvy nature of the league was emphasised last weekend when Crawley were beaten 3-2 by bottom club Fisher Athletic.

Barton said: "You never know what is going to happen from one week to the next, and there lies the definition of the league for this season.

"You can get top playing bottom like last week and it is all about what happens on the day."

But Barton still has no doubts as to his title favourites. "With the Crawley result last week, I still stick with the only unbeaten side in the league and that is my old club Burton Albion.

"They seem to have resources to change and take advantage of situations that will enhance their prospects."

That doesn't mean to say that Barton is writing off his own team's chances, as he acknowledged what could happen with a good run of results.

He added: "The runs have to be longer than three or four games. They need to go on to seven, eight, nine or ten and then you can establish yourself in the league. But the league is so close that it could just as easily go the other way."

Improved home form could be the key with two vital games coming up against Tamworth next Saturday and Merthyr Tydfil the following Monday. But Barton said: "There is more than our home form that we have to sort out."