Dryden has his players under starter’s orders

Worcester City head to the already-relegated Lancashire club for the first of three away Blue Square North fixtures to complete their season.

City have struggled to get out of the blocks several times of late and Dryden is keen to eradicate a trait that has cost them dearly.

An awful opening at Blyth Spartans last Saturday saw City four goals down and reduced to 10 men inside the first quarter-of-an-hour en route to a 6-0 defeat.

They continued in similar fashion 48 hours later, squandering their first-leg advantage to lose against Redditch United in the Worcestershire FA Senior Cup final before a rousing second-half display.

Dryden said: "We have been hurt the last couple of weeks with how results have gone and are desperate to get back on the winning trail and finish the season on a bit of a high.

"There's no point going all the way up there and starting to play when you are a goal down. I would encourage them to play like they did in the second-half on Monday but you can't sweep it under the carpet. If you keep doing that, nothing will change.

"If we turn up like we did at Blyth and go through the motions, we will get spanked."

He added: "We have got to start right, find the net a bit more and keep clean sheets.

"We have struggled for goals and clean sheets. When you lose people like Adam Webster and Emeka Nwadike, it's a big part of the backbone of the side.

"I have at least four or five players earmarked who I want to bring in and if I can get a few of them, I will be very happy.

"When you get rid of your main players with experience, people look around for guidance and sometimes it's not there."

City are likely to name an unchanged squad although Troy Wood's performance as a substitute against Redditch could mark him out for a starting place.

Graham Ward and George Clegg remain on the sidelines, while Will Ricketts has left the club following a spell of work experience.

Leigh have won just twice in their last 13 games.