REDDITCH United manager Rod Brown is calling on his players to put their miserable run behind them and climb back into the play-off places.

The Nationwide Conference North side have picked up just two points from their last three games - a string of results that has seen them slump down to eighth place.

But the Reds face the three sides currently in the relegation zone in their next three games with Brown (pictured left) wanting at least seven points from the matches.

"We have had the chances to get more from those games but the result is just two points out of a possible nine," Brown explained.

"We have missed chances and you have to look at that. But I don't want to bring people in just for the sake of it."

Basement boys Bradford Park Avenue are the visitors to the Valley Stadium on Saturday with the Reds heading north to Stalybridge Celtic on Tuesday evening. The following Saturday sees Brown's men back on the road when they play Ashton United.

"I am looking for a minimum of seven points from these game," the manager said. "That should be enough to put us back in the top five or six.

"Although they are down at the foot of the table, these will all be tough games. No matter who you play it is always a difficult game."

Norman Sylla gave Reds late hope at Gainsborough Trinity but his goal five minutes from time came too late to earn United a share of the spoils, the Lincolnshire side claiming a 2-1 victory.

Brown added: "It was disappointing that it took 70 or 80 minutes for us to test their keeper. We had chances in the last five minutes but it was too late."

Walsall teenager John Harkness made an impressive debut in midfield and the manager could still bring in others ahead of the weekend.

But his plans to sign a striker on loan from Kidderminster Harriers have been dashed.

"I have spoken to Gary Barnett and that is not going to happen because of the situation they are in," the manager explained.

"But I am still scouting around and have a few irons in the fire.

Former Kidderminster ace Sean Flynn is ruled out of the Bradford clash with a pulled thigh muscle but Brown hopes to have Chris Gray and Fraser McHugh back in contention after recovering from knocks. Gray hurt his foot in the shower while midfielder McHugh is suffering from a neck injury.