WORCESTER City boss John Barton insists his side can topple in-form Hednesford Town tomorrow (3pm).

The St George's Lane manager is confident his players can avenge their 3-1 defeat at the hands of the Pitmen earlier this season but they will have to do so without suspended winger Adam Wilde.

Midfielder Craig Woodley is also a doubt for the home clash with a bout of flu, but will have a late fitness test, while John Snape should be OK despite a visit to hospital on Monday night for a check up after he complained of a pain in the head.

Barton believes striker Leon Kelly could be the decisive factor in overturning Barry Powell's team but only if, as a team, they put in the work and cut out defensive mistakes.

While City have lost just once in five matches, they've been held to three draws and Barton has warned they must up their performance to claim three points tomorrow.

"There was an improvement last weekend and there has got to be some further improvement tomorrow if we want to win the game," he said.

"We are due a win against Hednesford but it will have to be all hands to the pump if we are to achieve it.

"The sole objective tomorrow is to win a football match and nothing else gets in the way of that.

"Hednesford are on a decent run but if we turn up, strike the right chord and play to what we are capable of then we have an excellent chance of winning the game."

But after the 5-1 horror show against Newport County, Barton has warned his players must be tight at the back to restrict the attacking threat of Steve Anthrobus and Nathan Lamey.

"We have got to start keeping a few clean sheets," added Barton.

"Individual errors and mistakes have cost us recently and we need to cut those out."

Up front Worcester's leading scorer Kelly will be looking to find the net after four games without a goal and Barton is hoping the striker is given the opportunity to score.

"Leon's play has been strong enough but there has not been enough for him to feed on," said Barton. "But he could be the key depen-ding on the make up of their side."

n Match preview -- Page 78.