Rangers boss looks to break Rushall

Stafford Rangers manager Greg Clowes believes his side have the key to unlock the Rushall Olympic defence in their first home derby of the season.

Rangers welcome their West Midlands rivals to Marston Road tonight, with the promoted visitors boasting one of the sternest back-lines in the Evo-Stik Northern League.

The Pics have the second best defensive record in the division having conceded five goals in nine games, one behind second-placed Chorley who have let in just four.

But Rangers have scored 11 in their last four games and kept their first clean sheet of the season on Saturday, in a 1-0 win at Kendal.

A stunning 5-4 defeat at Hednesford at the start of that run was their first West Midlands derby of the season and Clowes is keen to renew local rivalries on home soil tonight.

He said: "I am sure they will be bringing some support with them, as it is a close trip, and I am hoping we can put a few bums on seats with this mini-run that we are having.

"Rushall are very difficult to break down and they get men behind the ball, that's why they haven't conceded many goals.

"They have had a great start, they have got a foothold in this league now and they are doing very well.

"But, all of a sudden, our slow start has picked up a bit of momentum and we are going into this game tonight more confident than we have been in previous weeks.

"When you get results, it breeds confidence."

Rangers have took seven points out of 11 over those four games, a 3-3 draw with Whitby preceding the Hednesford defeat and a win over Marine.

Clowes said: "I look at the last four games and, as far as I concerned, we should have taken 12 points out of 12.

"I said to the players that, out of the 360 minutes, they have probably been on top for the majority of those, yet we have only taken seven points."