Harriers handed warning

Harriers assistant manager Neil Howarth has admitted tonight's clash with the division's pace-setters and Saturday's FA Trophy quarter final against Halifax could make or break their season.

"If we lose tonight and lose on Saturday that's more or less our season over," admitted Howarth.

"Before Saturday it was five home games on the bounce and it's a massive part of the season for us."We're not under any illusions that we've succeeded already just because we've got to the quarter-finals of the Trophy and we've had a good run in the league.

"We're so determined not to let the season just peter out which it could do if we don't improve our performances." We've had a great run and within that run we've had a couple of bad performances but managed to get a win.

"If you play like that (on Saturday) against an Exeter side that are full of confidence, strong, well organised and with some very good players if we play like that with only one or two performances in our 11 we'll get beaten every week."

Harriers had compiled a 13-match unbeaten run over 13 months in league and cup to give themselves hope of success on two fronts.

But back-to-back league defeats against Forest Green and Exeter have seen their play-off challenge falter. Meanwhile the club remained tight-lipped today on the ill-tempered scenes after Saturday's defeat to Exeter at Aggborough.

Manager Mark Yates appeared to strike Grecians midfielder Lee Elam in the seconds after the final whistle.

He was unavailable today while chairman Barry Norgrove has confirmed the club's board will not discuss the incident, either themselves or with Yates, until after tonight's crucial match.