WORCESTER City are looking to come out firing in their crucial clash against fellow strugglers Stalybridge Celtic at Altrincham’s Moss Lane tomorrow (3pm).

Caretaker boss John Snape admitted his side have been guilty of giving teams “too much respect” having conceded several early goals.

City have fallen behind in the first 15 minutes in four of the last seven games with the earliest coming after merely nine seconds in a dismal 2-0 defeat at Altrincham last month.

However, Snape insists Worcester cannot afford to get off to a sluggish start against second-from-bottom Stalybridge as they bid to lay the platform for a first Vanarama National League North win since November 12.

“I think we have probably shown teams too much respect, even against Brackley on Tuesday,” said Snape whose side lost 2-1 in midweek with Brackley’s Lee Ndlovu scoring inside the opening two minutes.

“Once we got in amongst them I thought we dealt with them reasonably well.

“It is down to us on the day. When we get our minds right we can compete with anybody but the problem is we don’t compete at the right times.

“The start of games have been slightly disappointing but that’s what we have been working on.

“We have been working on changing the warm-up and other little things so we will go again against Stalybridge and see what we can do.”

City’s defeat to Brackley extended their winless streak to 18 matches, breaking the club’s previous record of 17 straight games without a victory in a single season set in the 1920-21 campaign.

But with Stalybridge staring down the barrel at relegation City will see their latest fixture as a great opportunity to end the wretched run.

They are level on points with Gainsborough Trinity, who host play-off chasing Darlington tomorrow, but remain out of the drop zone on goal difference.

Stalybridge are 11 points adrift of safety and suffered a 4-0 thrashing to Worcester in October.

But the Greater Manchester side, who have got four games in hand on 19th-placed City, have improved since former Kidderminster Harriers boss Steve Burr took over the reins last month.

Worcester have bolstered their ranks this week with the loan signing of teenager Kuda Muskwe from Rotherham United.

The Zimbabwe-born forward could make his debut for City who have struggled for goals.

Jordan Murphy could be brought back into the attack as well after Junior English and Pa Sulay Njie failed to fire against Brackley.

Snape hopes to have wingers Chekaine Steele, who has been recovering from a hamstring injury, and QPR trialist Chay Scrivens back available.

He believes the duo can give City a much-needed “cutting edge” in their final seven games of the season.

“I don’t think we have let ourselves down in terms of effort and determination,” Snape added.

“But we have probably been missing a cutting edge.

“With the games we have got left I want Chekaine to be involved and give us a threat down that right-hand side.

“In all fairness to Chekaine he hasn’t been at his best.

“Maybe he has been hampered by the injury so hopefully he will get the all-clear.”

The match has been moved to Altrincham after the pitch at Stalybridge’s Bower Fold was deemed unplayable.