BROMSGROVE Rovers boss Rod Brown believes his side will need to improve if they are going to win promotion.

Rovers take on Willenhall Town in the Southern League Division One Midlands play-off final at the Victoria Ground on Saturday (3pm).

Brown saw his side edge out local rivals Evesham United 1-0 on Tuesday with an 88th-minute winner from Gary Hay who returned from a non-contract spell at Kidderminster.

But Willenhall, who saw off Chasetown by the same score, have lost just once in their last 12 matches.

They beat Rovers 2-1 in the league on January 13 but lost by the same score at the Victoria Ground back in October.

Brown said: "I wasn't surprised to see Willenhall beat Chasetown.

"They are not as strong as our side on paper but they are on a run where they've come from nowhere to reach the play-offs and have no fear.

"I don't see it as being an easy game. We have to be very alert. I thought we only had three or four players who played well against Evesham but we got the result.

"We can improve massively but I think they will have to be at their best to beat us."

Brown, who expects to be able to name the same team for the final, also paid tribute to Evesham's effort.

He said: "It was a very tense, close affair and it could have gone either way.

"I think we probably had the best chances but Evesham came and had a right go. The crowd made everybody a bit nervous and I think both teams suffered with it.

"It was a shame somebody had to lose the game and Paul West (Evesham manager) was very magnanimous in defeat."

But Brown was surprised John Snape escaped with a booking after bringing down United striker Mark Owen on the hour.

The Rovers manager added: "I couldn't believe it was a yellow card. I was making arrangements to have 10 men."