Being underdogs will suit us - Gardiner

Buy photos » Kyle Patterson has ended his loan spell with City. Picture by Rob Bazley.

ASSISTANT manager Matt Gardiner believes being underdogs will suit Worcester City as they look to shoot down high-flying Guiseley at St George's Lane on Saturday.

City face the daunting task of trying to beat the second placed Yorkshire outfit to revive their own fading play-off hopes.

Worcester desperately need a victory after back to back defeats including last Saturday's 3-1 loss at Harrogate saw them slip to seventh, having already played several more games than their rivals for a top five finish.

City's drought of victories at home remains their Achilles heel having not won in front of their own supporters since December 15 but Gardiner believes his side are capable of upsetting the title chasers.

"Guiseley are a very good team but they haven't won in three games and they will still want to go all out for the championship," he said.

"That's where I think going into the game as underdogs might suit us. They are going to come at us and I just feel the last four or five games at home people have shown us some respect and come and sat in and tried not to get beat and hit us on the counter.

"They have done it successfully but we know Guiseley will come and have a go. I am under no illusions they are a good side but we are certainly not intimidated by them. We will show them respect but we are looking forward to it."

Gardiner said City's players needed to improve their concentration levels if they were to avoid a seventh home defeat of the season but added they had not given up hope of reaching the play-offs.

"In football you never ever give up until things are mathematically impossible. The players understand that but they are also playing for personal pride. They want to prove to everyone what a good side they can be but it's just about having that consistency."

"We have been disappointing in the last few games but everyone is determined to put it right on Saturday."

City will be boosted by the return of Shabir Khan from international duty with Pakistan but Kyle Patterson has left Worcester after his loan spell was ended early by his club Nuneaton who felt he was not getting enough games.

He has been loaned back out to Hednesford.

"I think Kyle has done very well for us. He has played out of position and did a good job for the team but unfortunately with everyone coming back and being fit and available it was necessary for him to move on and get some football. He goes with our best wishes," Gardinder added.

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