LEE Hughes insists barracking from Bromsgrove Sporting fans will only serve to stoke his derby day furnace ahead of tomorrow’s return fixture (3pm).

Worcester City’s joint-boss silenced unsavoury chanting from the Shed End by plundering a pair of goals in the 3-3 draw at the Victoria Ground on Boxing Day.

The first, a sublime lob back across goal from 18 yards, came minutes after the flak had started but his second 29 seconds after half-time was not enough to fire City to victory.

And with Worcester still smarting from Sporting’s dramatic fightback Hughes is relishing renewing acquaintances with the landlords.

“I have played for West Brom against Wolves,” said Hughes. “I have always been a target for fans and when that happens I usually come up with the goods.

“On the day I scored twice and had a good chance to get my hat-trick. They can get on my back all the time, I have played in front of 40,000 or more so with all due respect 1,600 fans shouting will not affect me.

“I do like lobbing the keeper now and again, it is really good when you see them look like they’re waving at someone in the crowd before the ball lands in the net.

“Whatever level I play at, I treat scoring goals in the same way. I love it and I am just as enthusiastic about it in training.

“It will be another hard-fought game, we know that. Everyone will work their socks off and it will just come down to who shows their quality on the day.

“Players who had not played in front of big crowds before will enjoy it again, 1,600-plus is a lot for this level and those are the times you need your big players.

“We don’t want to sit back though. We want to go for the win.”

Victory on Boxing Day would have seen City make up ground in the Midland League Premier Division title race with Sporting Khalsa, Coleshill Town and Coventry Sphinx all claiming draws.

Worcester sit fifth, eight points off leaders Coleshill with two games in hand and seven behind second-placed Bromsgrove with one extra fixture to play.

“There are loads of points to play for,” said Hughes.

“I have been in situations with teams that have got promoted from being 13 or 14 points behind in March.

“If you put together a run of eight or so games around this time of the season you have a chance.

“It was two points dropped for us on Boxing Day but Bromsgrove did not win, we still have the same gap. If we could win this one we would be happy with a four-point return from the two games.”