EVESHAM United assistant manager Paul West admits the Robins are preparing themselves for the Southern League Division One West play-offs ahead of tomorrow's trip to Brackley Town (3pm).

The destiny of automation promotion is no longer in the hands of Dave Busst's side following their poor 1-0 home defeat to Bedworth United last Saturday.

Yate Town leapfrogged Evesham into second place and, with two games remaining, are now favourites to join Mangotsfield Town in the Southern League Premier Division.

Bedworth managed to brush aside United, despite having two players sent-off, leaving them with two points from their last four league games.

West confessed the pressure is proving too much for many of United's players with the stakes so high.

"We are in a predicament. Recent results have been kicks in the teeth for us," said West. "I can only say that pressure has got to the players.

"Myself and Dave have done our best to keep that away from them, but it can be quite hard. Last Saturday was the final straw.

"It was a performance that had been on the cards. They had two sent off and even if we had carried on playing until now, we still would not have scored."

Yate will clinch second spot if they now secure back-to-back wins and West said United's squad is being prepared with the play-offs in mind.

West added: "We have not exactly resigned ourselves to the play-offs, but we have to rely on Yate slipping up. Of course, I'll be waiting for the Yate score on Saturday and keeping my fingers crossed.

"What we have now got to do over the next two games is prepare the players for the play-offs because they come around the Monday after the Cinderford game."

Midfielder Steve Duncan returns after missing three games through work commitments, while Neil O'Sullivan will be suspended for the final-day clash with Cinderford.