A RUN of seven games without a win hardly makes pleasant reading for Harriers fans in 2001.

They have also failed to taste success away from home in Division Three since a 2-1 win at Darlington in October.

Harriers, very much in a transitional stage, are finding the going very tough on the road as Tuesday night's 4-0 defeat at Plymouth Argyle proved.

It was boss Jan Molby's biggest loss since he took charge before the start of their Conference-winning campaign.

And he was upset with Northampton referee Richard Beeby, especially after midfield dynamo Neil MacKenzie had a goal ruled out in first-half injury time.

The Devon side's first and last goals also displeased the Dane who has an immediate chance to correct Harriers' dwindling away form.

They head to relegation-fighters Carlisle United on Saturday and then bottom-half Shrewsbury Town next Tuesday.

Molby fumed: "When you are not winning games, things go against you.

"The first goal was a diabolical one to concede. The referee has moved the free-kick forward for kicking the ball away but having said that we should still have stopped it.

"Neil MacKenzie has actually scored - the players confirmed the ball was a yard over the line.

"For the third goal, the lad has miskicked his shot but has still had another chance to shoot and score.

"The fourth one was the one tackle Mark Shail got through all night. It wasn't a penalty in a million years.

"But Plymouth played very well. I thought at the start of the season they would be an excellent side and they proved that."

If there was any consolation for league new boys Harriers, 4-0 was a flattering scoreline for the home side.

And in the scheming MacKenzie the visitors had arguably the best player on the pitch.

But again some good early chances went begging before midfielder Dean Bennett was guilty of kicking the ball away seven minutes before the break after a free-kick was awarded 40 yards out.

The ball was moved forward 10 yards and into shooting range as defender Craig Taylor demonstrated with a low drive beyond Stuart Brock's grasp.

However, in stoppage time MacKenzie struck a fierce shot against the underside of the bar and, despite Harriers appeals, the referee waved play on.

Plymouth stepped up a gear after the break and striker Ian Stonebridge outpaced Shail down the right to thump home the second in the 62nd minute.

With 11 minutes left, Harriers' defence allowed Stonebridge to mis-kick his first effort before driving home the second from the follow-up.

There was still time for a MacKenzie free-kick to hit the post before Plymouth set the seal on victory in injury-time.

Shail was unluckily adjudged to have pushed substitute Steve Guinan and Paul Wotton thumped home the resulting penalty.