DAVE Busst has been named the Dr Martens League Western Division Manager of the Month for January, writes Mervyn Collins.

The Common Road chief led his revitalised side to four wins and two draws in an unbeaten sequence that has lifted the Robins into mid-table respectability.

And, there was double delight for Evesham, with the news that they had also claimed the ICIS Safe Hands Award after conceding just three goals during the month.

Goalkeeper Tim Clarke will receive a new pair of goalkeeping gloves.

"The players deserve the credit," Busst declared. "They've put in the workrate and commitment and managed to keep clean sheets that have enabled us to have a successful month and lift us up the table."

The United boss reserved some of the praise for assistant Paul West, who has played a big part in the club's revival.

"We've both got respect for the players and we get on well," Busst admitted.

We've both played at league level and our backgrounds at non-league level have also served us well."

It's in defence where Busst will turn his attentions as the Robins look to extend their seven-game unbeaten record at Gresley on Saturday.

Rovers were one of just ten teams in action last Saturday when they consolidated their mid-table placing with a 2-1 success at Mangotsfield.

United skipper Lee Knight sits out the first of four matches this weekend and Busst will be hoping that Steven Hands or Linton Bailey - or better still both - come through training this week after both have missed the last four matches because of injury.

The influential Sean Flynn will also need replacing as he is unavailable this weekend and that could mean a start for the recently returned Steve Shaw in midfield.

"Gresley have come through a sticky patch and looked a decent side when I saw them some weeks ago," Busst recalled.

"It's a game we need to win if we are to maintain our move up the division especially as Gresley are one of the teams that we need to overtake if we are to get into the top seven."

Dr Martens League

Western Division

P W D L F A Pts

Redditch 26 17 6 3 54 19 57

Rugby Utd 27 15 5 7 42 28 50

Sutton C'field 27 12 9 6 38 21 45

Team Bath 26 13 5 8 46 31 44

Gloucester 24 13 5 6 45 35 44

Halesowen 23 12 7 4 49 29 43

Cirencester 20 13 2 5 40 19 41

Bromsgrove 25 11 7 7 40 30 40

Solihull 26 11 7 8 29 20 40

Gresley 25 11 4 10 37 32 37

Evesham 26 10 4 12 40 38 34

Mangotsfield 26 10 3 13 47 54 33

Clevedon 26 10 3 13 33 40 33

Ilkeston 24 8 7 9 29 38 31

Swindon SM 28 8 7 13 28 47 31

Bedworth 25 7 6 12 26 38 27

Stourport 27 6 7 14 30 48 25

Yate 24 7 4 13 30 51 25

Taunton Tn 23 7 3 13 27 35 24

Shepshed 27 2 10 15 21 55 16

Cinderford 23 3 5 15 26 45 14