MANI Dieseruvwe revealed how Kidderminster Harriers' "wake-up call" during the opening weeks of the campaign had inspired their current purple patch.

The towering hitman notched a double in Saturday's 4-0 FA Cup victory over Tamworth four days after a single in a six-goal stuffing of the same opponents in National North.

Harriers have now won seven and drawn two of the 10 matches since losing to Brackley in their first home outing with the ex-Chesterfield frontrunner quick to point to that chastening experience as a pivotal moment.

Dieseruvwe told the Shuttle: "It was a bit of a wake-up call when we lost to Brackley and the gaffer has been very hard on us ever since.

"He really hammered it home that we would need to battle first and earn the right to play. We cannot think we are better than anyone else because teams will make it hard for us, especially at home.

"The basics have to be right and now we have made sure of that for a few weeks, the goals have started to come.

"We have had 12 games in roughly six weeks but now the schedule starts to settle down and we will have the chance to work on coming into the games even sharper.

"With training full-time, we look fit as a team and the gaffer and his staff deserve credit for that. It is not like the old days of just running for the sake of it, training is very technical and tactical and we get good information given to us.

"The gaffer and Gards (assistant manager Matt Gardiner) pass on the knowhow we need to win matches."

And while Dieseruvwe has been among the goals in some fluid displays, he is also more than happy to do the dirty work.

"Ever since my days in the youth team, I have been taught to do both sides of the game," he added.

"It is especially important in this league because there are a lot of high balls in certain periods. There are plenty of teams who want to stop you playing and prevent your midfielders getting on the ball so sometimes, it might have to come straight to me.

"I have to do my bit to either hold it up or flick it on. I'll do whatever it takes to help the team."