CAPTAIN Chris Lucketti hopes the F-factor will help propel North End to their first away victory of the season.

For the help of the FANS could help North End bring three little letters W, I and N together to give the team three much-needed points and shift their stagnating season up a gear.

Following two draws at home in the past five days, something the fans are growing increasingly restless about as they watch their side squander chances left, right and centre, Lucketti has issued a plea for the fans to stay behind them when they travel to Derby at the weekend.

He said: "The fans were a massive help to us in extra-time against Scunthorpe, the lads really appreciated it.

"The lift probably helped us to press on and get the winner. It think our fitness also showed in extra-time.

"We need the fans support in the two tough away games we have coming up at Derby and Wolves over the next week.

"They made the difference against Scunthorpe and if they are like that every game, I have no doubt we will be moving up the table.

Manager Craig Brown has also been quick to applaud the performance of the fans. He felt his side were OEfortunate, to get a point against Sheffield Wednesday on Saturday but unlucky not to win on Tuesday night against Watford.

He said: "I just don't think that that the points total we have got reflects the quality of the performances.

"I feel that it is a total distortion. It is frustrating to see another draw and it would be nice to pick up three points for a change but I thought we deserved the points and it is worth remembering that it is now eight games since our last defeat.

Saturday's game places North End in front of the SKY TV cameras, back in the Nationwide grounds following the collapse of ITV Digital earlier this year.

North End have not escaped the financial ramifications of that collapsed deal and have re-structured off the pitch, resulting in redundancies.

The School of Excellence and Youth Team set-ups have merged, with Gary Peters now set to leave North End, and the media and commercial departments have also combined, as have the finance and matchday operations.

Chief executive Tony Scholes said: "The net result of these changes will be a significant saving for the club over the next two years, which will help ensure our financial position remains a healthy one.

North End could leap-frog both of the next two opponents if they win against both Wolves (Tuesday) and Derby.

They are in 11th and 10th respectively, compared to North End's 16th.

Brown added: "A couple of victories will see us in contention and I am sure that within the next week or so, that will be a distinct possibility.

Brown is expected to rotate his players again. Michael Keane and Dickson Etuhu both started on Wednesday, with Mark Rankine and Eddie Lewis among those on the bench. Rob Edwards should also be fit again.