Time to rise to the challenge

5:06pm Wednesday 20th August 2008

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KIDDERMINSTER Harriers manager Mark Yates has called on his players to meet the challenge of overcoming a disastrous start to the Blue Square Premier head on.

The Aggborough side are in the relegation zone after only picking up one point from their first three games of the new campaign.

Saturday’s 4-2 loss to Mansfield (read report) was also the last straw for the manager, who is set to ring the changes for the Bank Holiday weekend league clashes at home to Altrincham on Saturday and away at Burton on Monday (both 3pm kick-off).

“I need the players to step up to the challenge we have and not back down,” commented the manager.

“It’s too easy to let things happen when thing aren’t going your way and I’ve spoken to the lads about attacking problems to overcome them, rather than going down without a fight.”

If Harriers are to stop the rot against Altrincham they must sharpen up in defence and avoid the mistakes which saw them slip 3-0 down by half-time at Mansfield.

On-loan West Bromwich Albion left-back Lee Baker is set to have recovered from the knee problem which kept him out of Saturday’s loss in Nottinghamshire to bolster Harriers’ back four.

“We’ve worked hard in training to put things right and we’ll go into the Altrincham game in good shape,” said the manager.

“We made a lot of errors in defence against Mansfield and we’ve worked on those problems all week.

“I know we have got a good team here but at the moment some of our key players aren’t performing.

“But all we need is a win and that will give us the lift we need to build on.”

Yates may also wield the axe to under performing stars such as Darryl Knights and Russ Penn and bring in Matthew Barnes-Homer and Martin Brittain, both of whom have impressed as substitutes.

“Maybe I have made a few mistakes in my team selection and there will definitely be some changes to the side,” said Yates.

“People like Martin Brittain and Matthew Barnes-Homer have done well when they have played so we’ll see for Saturday.”

Meanwhile, the manager has not ruled out strengthening his squad before the end of the transfer window.

Harriers have a young squad and Yates may try to bring in a player with more experience at their level.