Boss wants consistent Harriers
Kidderminster manager Mark Yates has pleaded with his players for consistency as they look to break through their Aggborough glass ceiling.
Kidderminster manager Mark Yates has pleaded with his players for consistency as they look to break through their Aggborough glass ceiling.
Harriers have been stunning at times this season and shocking at others, meaning they have struggled to climb from mid-table into the play-off picture.
And, after seeing his side throw away a potential win at Northwich on Tuesday, Yates has challenged them to stop being so erratic.
"I'm disappointed not to have won both games this week," said Yates after seeing his side collect four points from a possible six.
"We're very inconsistent at the moment. We've had some good performances but haven't been able to get a run going. I am sure we'll get there, but I want it to happen sooner rather than later.
"We're all working hard to make sure that we are capable of getting higher in the table.
"For me Tuesday night's game just summed up our season so far because it was good and bad.
"We went out and played well in the first half, went 1-0 up and really should have wrapped up the game.
"But we never got going in the second half and only ended up with a draw."
Yates' cause has not been helped by injuries to key personnel and he will hope for positive updates this week on four of his stars.
Veteran defender Jeff Kenna is due for a scan this week on a stomach muscle strain that has troubled him since pre-season but has now forced him onto the sidelines.
But doctors fear he could be out for up to a month.
The medical staff are also investigating the possibility that goalkeeper Scott Bevan has torn a quadricep - an injury that could rule him out for a lengthy spell.
Striker Iyseden Christie is still troubled with a hamstring injury while winger Simon Russell's knee injury is still giving him problems.
Yates said: "Those four were important players for us last season.
"The squad is big enough to cope without them, but I would rather they're fit because they are all important. But in the meantime it is up to other players to come in and take their chance.
"In goal, Chris McKenzie has battled back from a tricky debut where he admitted he wasn't at his best and we didn't give him enough protection.
"In the last two games he has been outstanding and looked like the goalkeeper we knew he was when we got him on loan."
