WORCESTER City manager Richard Dryden has backed Danny McDonnell to bounce back from his Team Bath blunder.

The City keeper gifted the visitors their first goal in Monday’s 2-0 victory at St George’s Lane when his clearance rebounded off Josh Llewellyn into the empty net.

However, McDonnell has been in good form throughout the campaign to date and Dryden is confident he will put it behind him.

The City boss said: “The ball was pinged back to him, he might have needed a touch and it’s one of those things.

“Danny has played many games this season for us and that’s probably his first mistake.

"When you’re a centre-half, full-back or goalkeeper - the last line of defence - if you make a mistake sometimes that happens. But it’s important that he gets on with it now and comes in Thursday ready to train hard again for Saturday.”

McDonnell later watched as Marc Cannham blazed a second-half penalty wide before Mike Perrott compounded a dismal evening for City with a 78th-minute header.

Dryden said: “They were very good. If there was ever a side you didn’t want to play for your second game in three days it was probably Team Bath. They are big, strong and very fit being full-time and you can see the difference.

“It just proves what sort of league it is. They got beat 3-0 on Saturday and they came and beat us 2-0. We went away from home and win 2-0 at Havant so it’s a topsy turvy league but I thought we were well beaten.”

The result also means City, unbeaten on the road so far this season, have only won two of their eight matches in all competitions at the Lane.

Dryden added: “It was very disappointing with the expectations after three great league wins. We are playing a lot better away from home, that is a fact and if people have been home and away this season it definitely shows.”

The City manager also admitted that having to replace Dave Bampton, still recovering from a virus, before half-time was less than ideal.

Dryden said: “I spoke to Dave Bampton, he wanted to play, he said he was fit and he did make a difference in the first 10 or 15 minutes but he totally blew up and had no energy.

“To make a substitution that early against a team like this wasn’t going to help but Gary Walker came on and did fantastically again.”