WORCESTER City manager John Barton has urged his players to be ruthless in front of goal ahead of tonight's clash with Halesowen Town at St George's Lane (7.45).

Barton's misfiring side have managed just two league wins in their last eight games and paid the penalty for a succession of squandered chances in Saturday's 2-1 defeat at Havant.

City stay fourth in the Dr Martens Premier Division despite the defeat, but Barton concedes they need to find the net with more frequency if they are to sustain hopes of runners-up spot.

"We need to show more conviction in front of goal and make our chances count," said Barton.

"We are striving to do well and maybe we will get our reward tonight."

The relegation-threatened Yeltz could include former City winger Michael Blackwood who has recently signed for the Grove club.

Blackwood made seven appearances for City at the start of the season before moving to Conference strugglers Stevenage Borough.

Barton is waiting on the fitness of midfielder David Foy who made a surprise appearance at the weekend after a six- month absence with a knee injury.

Both strikers Mark Owen and Darren Middleton, who started on the bench on Saturday, could come into the reckoning while fellow front man Stewart Hadley has a sore Achilles.

Barton was disappointed with his side's finishing on Saturday at Havant as well as the goals they conceded, but admitted he could not fault them for effort.

"We had a good response from last week and we deserved to get something from the game and we can make a case for having created enough chances to have won the game," he said.

"I thought we should have had at least a draw but there was no conviction in front of goal and the poor marking for both goals was also disappointing.

"Stewart had a good chance with a header, Adam Wilde's had some chances and Paul Carty was in a great position at the end.

"The goals we conceded were very disappointing.

"The first Havant goal came when the smallest bloke on the pitch was allowed a free header. He was totally unmarked."

FORMCAST: City to win 2-0.