IAN Britton faces the prospect of being hit by more flak from his critics if Kidderminster Harriers fail to beat basement club Carlisle United in tomorrow's Nationwide League Division Three clash at Aggborough.

The Harriers boss has come under heavy fire from concerned fans since his struggling side began a grim run of nine matches without a win.

It has left them in the second-from-bottom relegation spot just three points better off than Carlisle.

Britton admits he is going through the lowest point in his managerial career but is determined to pull out all the stops to get Harriers back up the table.

He has re-signed Wolves midfielder John Melligan on a month's loan and the 21-year-old, who scored 10 goals in 29 games at Aggborough last season, will come straight into the side.

Britton said: "I know the pressure is on me because success or failure in football is determined by results. If you don't win games, your head is on the chopping block.

"But we are all in this together. I'm not abdicating my responsibility but the players have to take their responsibility too. They have got to stand up and be counted.

"Criticism comes with the territory if you don't do well and it does hurt. But you can't afford to feel sorry for yourselves. You have to pick yourselves up and be prepared for the next game."

The next two matches are critical for Britton in his desperate bid to lift the doom and gloom which has descended on Aggborough.

Next Saturday another struggling side, Southend United, are the visitors and Britton says: "We cannot afford to lose them. Talk about pressure? These matches will be all about pressure."

Harriers chairman Colin Youngjohns, who has issued a 'don't panic' message to fans, said: "We are a point or two off three teams and I intend to finish much higher than the relegation places. I do want us to win the next two games but if we lose both that will not relegate us."

Kidderminster, who have collected just three wins in their last 22 Division Three outings since mid-March, have not beaten Carlisle in six league meetings between the sides.

But Britton says: "Everybody talks about Carlisle as a bogey side, but records are always there to be beaten."

Harriers have no fresh injury concerns following their 1-0 defeat at Huddersfield Town in midweek, in which Britton relegated popular long-serving defender Craig Hinton to the substitutes' bench.

FORMCAST: Harriers will have to settle for a 1-1 draw.