John Still has called for a local derby mentality when Maidstone go to Tonbridge tonight.

Still felt that was missing in the New Year’s Day meeting at the Gallagher with the Stones lucky to escape with a 2-2 draw.

Tonbridge, on the other hand, showed it in abundance, and that’s what Still wants to see from his side at Longmead as they bid to move within a point of the National South play-off places.

“The game has changed drastically over the years," said United's head of football.

“Years ago, if Tottenham played West Ham, it’s a local derby, but everyone that played for Tottenham lived around Tottenham and everyone that played for West Ham lived around West Ham.

“Now they come from all over the world and local derbies are not what they were but they are at this level.

“We’ve already highlighted it. It’s a local derby, forget how they’re doing, forget how we’re doing.

"This is about giving everything because most people at these levels do live locally, within a reasonable distance, and we have to go and play a local derby on Tuesday.

“Tonbridge played a local derby at our place and we just played a normal game and once the game’s going it’s hard to switch your mentality.

"Whoever they were, they worked their socks off and I don’t think we got to the level they performed at.

“They got too many crosses in our box and I felt we were lethargic in our play, I really did, and it’s the mentality.

“We try and play every game to win but we’ve got to go there with the local derby mentality and if we do that then our ability will come through.

"But if we don’t do that we won’t get a chance to show our ability."

Tonbridge remain unbeaten this year, battling back from 3-1 down to rescue a point at Billericay on Saturday.

They’re strong at home, picking up six wins, but the Longmead pitch has suffered in recent weeks with three games called off due to heavy rain, including the original Boxing Day date against Maidstone.

Speaking about the derby last week, Angels boss Steve McKimm said: “All these games are nice to play in and when it’s your local rivals there’s a little extra spice for the fans.

“As staff and players we just get on with it and treat it like a normal game but the two sets of fans have their little bit of tit-for-tat and hopefully it’s all in good spirit.

“We might have got 1,500 on Boxing Day, maybe more, maybe less.

“I couldn’t gauge what it might be on a Tuesday night but I’d like to think we’ll get at least 800.

“We hope so but the main thing is what we do on the pitch and we’ll be looking to give a good account of ourselves.”

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