MANAGER Richard Dryden wants Worcester City to lay the foundations for a crucial week by continuing their unbeaten record on the road.

City go into Saturday’s Blue Square South match at Havant and Waterlooville with three wins and two draws from their opening five away fixtures this season.

Along with Chelmsford, the St George’s Lane side are the only team in the league yet to lose on their travels and underlined that with a 3-1 victory at Welling in their last outing back on September 20.

Dryden’s side made it back-to-back league wins with a stunning 3-2 success over AFC Wimbledon two weeks ago and will be looking to make it three in a row in Hampshire.

The visit to Westleigh Park is the first of three matches in seven days for City with current leaders Team Bath at the Lane on Monday and a trip to Maidenhead United a week on Saturday.

Dryden said: “The games are coming thick and fast and we are looking forward to them.

“It will be a very crucial period and if we can start the seven days off with a good result, it holds us in good stead for the other two matches.

“It’s not as if we have gone to teams and tried to shut up shop and take a 1-0 win — we have had a right go. It’s the way we have played away from home.

“Saturday is a big game, they are a good side who are just about in the top half but, like I have said before, if we finish above these teams we will be in the play-offs.”

Havant are also better on their travels, having only managed to register one win on home soil this season — a 5-1 thrashing of Basingstoke on August 25.

Dryden said: “There are some sides in our league who are better away from home and Havant must be one of them.

“I don’t know what their problem is at home but we are going down there to try and spoil the party and keep it to one win at home for them this season.”

A decision on Shabir Khan’s involvement will be left to the last minute but Jamie Price is on hand to continue in the left-back berth he occupied in Monday’s 1-0 Worcestershire FA Senior Cup quarter-final defeat against Redditch.

Forward Matt Dinsmore is a doubt through illness but Dryden would like to go with the team who scored three times in 24 minutes against AFC Wimbledon.

“If we can keep the same side, we will. It’s the sensible thing to do,” Dryden added.

“Jamie was fantastic in the first-half against AFC Wimbledon and his attitude has been great since being left out against Tamworth.

“Another string to his bow is that, at a push, he can play full-back.”