Double blow for Rangers

Struggling Stafford Rangers have been rocked by a double blow with defender Luke Potter recalled by Barnsley – and midfielder Chris Flynn facing a four-match ban.

Potter made his last appearance for Rangers in the Boxing Day defeat by Burton, where Flynn was red-carded for a late challenge on Brewers' veteran former Birmingham City keeper Kevin Poole.

He will get an automatic three-match ban for violent conduct, kicking in against Ebbsfleet this Saturday, but he has also been slapped with an additional one-match ban he was due to serve anyway for reaching five yellow cards. Caretaker boss Neil Grayson admitted they were serious blows to Rangers' survival hopes.

"Luke is definitely going back to Barnsley – they have had a couple of injuries up there," said Grayson. "It leaves us without a left-sided defender, so it will be a case of shuffling the pack."

Grayson had no quibbles with Flynn's dismissal, but refused to blame his midfielder over the incident.

"He thought he could get to the ball and you can't fault him for that, but unfortunately he caught the keeper in the face and he admitted it. It was probably a sending off," said the caretaker boss.

Grayson believes the dismissal was a turning point in the game. "Before the sending off we were right in the game," he added. "It's disappointing three setpieces in the first half cost us.

"We knew beforehand just how dangeorus they were from setpieces and we'd talked about it. Obviously that's something we're going to have to come in and work on.

"I'm proud of the lads for the way they worked to close them down in the second half. We've shown if we do our jobs and work hard, we're capable of getting something out of games."

Rangers' defeat, plus a win for Northwich over strugglers Altrincham, saw them slip to second from bottom of the Blue Square Premier, on goal difference from Droylsden, who lost at York. But Farsley's victory over Halifax leaves both of them 10 points adrift of safety.