BILLY Clarke loves to moan about the state of the Valley Parade pitch – to wind up the opposition.

City's demanding home surface has become a major talking point in League One and Clarke plays his own mind games during matches to stir up a reaction.

The in-form forward is happy to grumble along with rival teams to get them even more fearful of the pitch's unpredictability.

He laughed: "I heard a few of the Oldham lads complaining after I'd instigated it to get a reaction! I want to find out if their heads are on it or not.

"You just have to get on with it – but it is tough. Some things happen, like a ball will suddenly bounce right up, and you just have to shrug your shoulders.

"But when the other team's going through and they try to cross it and it comes off their kneecap, then I have a little laugh.

"I can hear them moaning and groaning about the pitch and I try to join in. There were a couple of Fleetwood players last week complaining and I was making it worse.

"When they started moaning about how terrible it is, I'd agree and say things like 'watch out, it's a minefield'.

"It's especially difficult for those teams who have got a decent pitch. But we've had enough practice on it now; a lot more than everyone else."

Clarke's double strike against Oldham on Saturday ended a run of three straight draws as City made it five league games without defeat.

He said: "Our performances have been good and we've played well in parts in previous games. But it was good to get back to winning ways.

"We've always been a tough team to beat but we just needed to turn those draws into wins. You draw too many games and you might as well win two and lose two and get more points. But we've taken the positives from the games we drew.

"We've wrongly been focusing on future stuff. We just need to concentrate on the next game against Chesterfield, which is another massive one. We need to put in another shift like Saturday, if not better."

Clarke agreed that City felt the benefit of last week's break in Portugal but there is no let-up now. Chesterfield's visit is followed by games on Good Friday and Easter Monday.

He said: "It's going to be really tough but we're all fit lads. As a team, we're probably as fit as anyone.

"It was nice to get away and switch off and I think that's helped. But I find I get a bit bored when I'm doing nothing for a couple of days and away from the usual routine."