Big Rangers rematch for Matt Elliott

Stafford Rangers boss Matt Elliott believes the game against Hyde is more important than the reverse fixture in January that led to Tim Flowers' resigning as manager.

A 1-0 defeat at the Tigers was the last straw for Flowers, who walked out on the club, with his assistant Elliott taking caretaker and then permanent charge.

The two teams now meet again at Marston Road with the stakes high, as Hyde hover above Rangers outside the relegation places but Elliott's men could pull level on points with a win.

It's a relegation dogfight and Elliott will again be without key players for the game with Andre Francis, Ashley Wooliscroft and Mark Dudley not yet fit to return.

The manager also has slight doubts on Danny Edwards and Tyree Clarke, who are carrying slight hamstring and groin strains respectively, while Alex Forde misses the second game of a three-match suspension.

But Levi Reid is set to return, after missing Tuesday night's win at Redditch through work commitments.

And Elliott will be expecting his players to be at the top of the game tomorrow, admitting he wants no repeat of the performance when the two teams last met.

He said: "The game against Hyde away was disappointing, not only in the result but in the performance, but that is behind us now.

"We have got a massive, massive game tomorrow and the table itself speaks for how important it is. We can't wait for it to come around.

"The end of the season is coming closer and closer and there's a little bit more emphasis on each game, especially in our predicament."

Tomorrow's game starts a sequence of three home matches for Rangers, with Boston United on Tuesday and Blyth Spartans next Saturday to come.

Elliott added: "If you are going to have three games in a week, you would certainly prefer to have them at home, so we are looking forward to the challenge."