Harriers face a defensive headache

Kidderminster Harriers could face a defensive crisis after losing two more defenders on their bogey ground at Barrow on Saturday.

Harriers were defeated 2-1 at Holker Street, where they haven't won since 1999, and lost Tom Sharpe to a knee injury after just 10 minutes, while his replacement Michael Briscoe was also feeling the effects of a bang to the ribs but managed to finish the game.

Manager Steve Burr was also missing Lee Vaughan, who has the flu, while Mark Albrighton was only just back from a two-game suspension.

The Harriers boss will now hope that his three injured defenders will be fit when Barrow make the return trip to Aggborough for the Blue Square Premier double-header on Saturday.

Should they all miss out, the manager would have little other option than to play utility man Chris McPhee in defence, after only just restoring him to midfield.

Burr said: "We seem to be jinxed at the moment, with central defenders getting injured every week or losing them through one thing or another. When you have got to reshuffle after ten minutes of the game it is difficult.

"Michael has been down with the flu all week but come on and did very well, although he came off at the end with a rib problem. But we lost Tom and he has been doing well, so it's a bit of a problem for us.

"We have a clear week now, so we will have to see how the injured lads respond and make sure we are right for Saturday."

Burr's men were downed by a brace from Barrow striker Louis Almond, who is on loan from Premier League club Blackpool.

It continued the hard luck stories at Holker Street for Harriers, with Burr admitting nothing went their way on the day.

He said: "Nothing seemed to go for us in the game to win it. Sometimes you need the rub of the green and we didn't seem to get it.

"Louis Almond was the difference between the two sides. The lad has finished two great goals but, in saying that, we had opportunities and on another day we could have won.

"I think it was a game that could, quite easily, have gone either way."