BROMSGROVE Rovers' assistant manager Bernard Mackie believes that his side has ten games to stop promotion slipping away from them in the Southern League Division One West.

Rovers are badly lagging behind in the race to escape the division after failing to win their last three league matches.

Mackie though believes that a good run of results over the Christmas and New Year period could turn their season around.

He said: "We need to win eight of the next ten games. If we can do that then we have a good chance of going up."

Rovers' next ten fixtures contain testing home clashes against runaway leaders Ashford and Clevedon.

"If we can beat the leading sides then we know we can win promotion", added Mackie.

However, Rovers manager Jimmy Mullen is acutely aware that his side is lacking goals.

With Mark Danks set to return to Forest Green Rovers this week after the end of his loan period and Matthew Barnes-Homer mis-firing up front Rovers are struggling for goals.

On-loan Paul Szewczyk has yet to reach match fitness and Ben Porter has yet to hit the back of the net.

To combat the goal drought Mullen was set to sign 22-year-old forward Duncan Willetts from Stourport Swifts last night (Tuesday).

Mackie said: "We just need someone who gets a touch in the six-yard box and knows where goal is.

"Duncan's a striker and hopefully he can get goals for us."

Mackie also rued all of Rovers' missed chances in Saturday's 4-1 loss to Willenhall.

He said: "The amount of chances we missed was the reason why we lost. We had so many chances it was unbelievable.

"We were all devastated after the game because we did not deserve to lose.

"We may have to change our style a bit to make sure we start scoring goals."

Szewczyk is set to start Saturday's FA Trophy match at Bath City (3pm kick off).

l Midfielder Wayne Dyer ended any fears of him leaving the club by signing a two-year deal with Rovers last week.

Dyer had been a transfer target for AFC Telford and Redditch United. It was feared the 27-year-old Montserrat international would leave for a club in a higher division.

Rovers' chairman Tom Herbert said: "Wayne's agreement with us shows how committed the club is to keeping our best players."

By Peter McKinney