Rangers get a hand from Lee Ashcroft

Stafford Rangers boss Greg Clowes has enlisted the help of a former Albion striker to get the lowdown on Worksop.

Rangers hit the road for the first time this season with a trip to Sandy Lane tonight to face the Nottinghamshire outfit, managed by ex-Stockport defender Martin McIntosh.

And Clowes has touched base with one-time Baggies star Lee Ashcroft, who was a player at the Hawthorns between 1993 and 1996.

Ashcroft, now 38, is in charge of Rangers' Evo-Stik Northern League rivals Kendal, who beat Worksop 3-0 in Saturday's season opener.

Rangers went down 2-0 at home to FC United of Manchester at the same time, so both will be looking to get their first points on the board tonight.

But Clowes has warned his side they must improve on Saturday's performance against the Tigers.

He said: "We know that everybody has got to be on their game to get anything from anywhere in this league.

"It was clear on Saturday that if you are going to carry players, you are going to lose, so it's essential we get the right team out there tonight.

"Some players will get another chance but there's a big question mark on some of them, at the moment."

Rangers will be skippered by Ryan Dicker tonight, making his competitive debut after an ankle injury, as captain Paul Donnelly is absent through work commitments at Staffordshire University, where he is an administrator.

New-boy Lee McAnulty could take Donnelly's place alongside Dicker in the centre of defence while midfielder Dan Skelton is still filling in at left-back, with Jon Sheldon sitting out the second game of a three-match ban.

Kevin Street also continues to be sidelined with a groin strain, with the midfielder failing to pass a fitness test at Monday night's training session.

But, with players still to return, Clowes has told players they face the axe if they don't perform.

He said: "We never really got a foot-hold on the United game but, for 30 minutes, we were just as good as them.

"The players are aware that my patience and tolerance levels, at this point in time, really are stretched.

"I want to be winning and, if I have to change things, I will do."