CAPTAIN Graham Hutchison admits Worcester City need to “grow up very quickly” and take their game to the “next level” to beat FC United of Manchester today (3pm).

Worcester are still awaiting their first win of the National League North campaign after successive defeats to Gloucester City, FC Halifax Town and Tamworth.

However, Hutchison insists City, whose only point came on their opening day of the season with a 2-2 draw against Harrogate Town, are “shooting themselves in the foot” with “silly mistakes”.

Despite their poor run of form, including a 3-2 loss at home to Gloucester on Tuesday, Hutchison says they remain upbeat ahead of their trip to Broadhurst Park to face 12th-placed FC United.

“It is about us coming together as a group of men and growing up very quickly because, if we don’t, it could be a long season,” he said.

“Carl (Heeley, manager) believes and the boys believe so we are feeling positive.

“The good thing at the minute is the games are coming thick and fast so we have got a chance to put it right today.

“FC United will have a nice pitch and there will be a lot of fans there that will be on our case.

“But this is a chance for us to really step up to the plate and show we are ready to take this on as a team and take it to the next level.

“I am relishing it and I know the boys are as well, so we will see how it goes.”

Striker Lee Hughes and left-back Cieron Keane will be missing due to suspension but Tyler Weir could make his return after recovering from an ankle injury.

Worcester will also hope to have pacey winger Nathan Olukanmi available as he awaits international clearance.

Hutchison was part of a dysfunctional back-four in midweek as their error-strewn display helped Gloucester's Luke Hopper net a second-half hat-trick.

The 23-year-old defender says he and his team-mates need to realise “the buck stops with them”.

“We are four games into the season and every game we have lost or drawn is coming from our own silly mistakes,” he said. “We are shooting ourselves in the foot.

“The gaffer, Snaps (John Snape, assistant manager) and Kingy (Ian King, coach) are doing a great job prepping us on what to expect from the other teams and give us great game-plans.

“They can’t do any more so, for us as players, we need to realise it is up to us to grow up and come into our own once we cross the white line. We need to do it soon because if we don’t we will find ourselves in a tricky situation.”