KIDDERMINSTER Harriers manager Mark Yates has backed under-fire defender Gavin Caines to bounce back from his dip in form.

The Birmingham-born 26-year-old has come under criticism after several errors that have led to Harriers dropping points away from home in recent weeks.

The former Cheltenham defender was also sent off inside ten minutes of their Blue Square Premier defeat at York City on Saturday.

However, the manager feels that the embattled stopper, who is available for Saturday’s Conference clash at AFC Wimbledon, needs the fans’ backing.

“I hear whispers that Gavin [Caines] is getting some criticism at the moment but I think he’s done well for us," commented the manager.

“He’s made some mistakes in the last few away games, but everybody makes those on occasion.

“What he needs is the fans getting behind him and not getting on his back.

“We’re better as a club when we’re pulling in the same direction.

“No one is more disappointed than Gavin and if he gets picked against Wimbledon on Saturday, then he will be the first to put his head on the line.”

Caines may have a job to get back into the side, after an impressive performance by captain Chris McPhee in the back four during Tuesday’s 2-0 win over Wrexham.

It was a good night at Aggborough, which saw Robbie Matthews grab his first goal for Harriers since joining from Salisbury in August.

Midfielder John Finnigan also made an impressive return to the side after a six-match injury absence.

Yates believes that the club will have to be careful with the 33-year-old, who has struggled to nail down a place in the side because of injury problems.

He said: “John’s a quality player and if we can have him for 30 games this season then we've done very well.

“He’s picked up a few knocks over the last few years and that means we have to be careful.

"But you could see what a quality player he is against Wrexham. He started slowly, but in the second half he was absolutely superb.

“We’re lucky that we’ve got the likes of Chris McPhee, Dean Bennett and Nathan Hayward, who can play in the same position.”

After the mid-week win, the Aggborough outfit are just two points behind fifth-placed Mansfield and face a tough task at in-form Wimbledon in the league on Saturday (3pm kick-off).

Bennett is expected to be available after missing Tuesday night’s clash with a knock, but David McDermott will not be fit.

The midfielder was stretchered off during the mid-week win after being fouled by Silvio Spann, but a scan showed that he avoided serious injury.

Harriers’ Conference home clash against Luton Town on Saturday, October 10 is an all-ticket match for away fans.

The Hatters have been allocated 2,300 tickets for the south stand terrace and east terrace.

READ YORK AND WREXHAM MATCH REPORTS