MICK Tuohy believes Worcester City have the mental strength to emerge from a poor run of results and finish the season strongly.

City's assistant manager admits to being puzzled by their dip in form but with professional pride at stake is confident the St George's Lane club can end four games without a win with victory at home to Weymouth tomorrow (3pm).

Defeats to Havant and Tiverton plus draws with Halesowen and Chippenham have dented ambitions of runners-up spot in the Dr Martens Premier Division but that remains the target for Tuohy ahead of their Terras encounter.

"I hope we don't fade like we have done and if do it will be a real mystery to me," said Tuohy.

"We've gathered the most talented squad we've had here for a long time and it will be bitterly disappointing if we slip away as we have looked liked doing.

"I think there is a mental barrier to overcome with seven games to go," he added.

"If we were playing for play-offs it would be a little bit different but we are looking at professional pride.

"John Barton and I are looking for the highest position possible. Realistically first spot is out of our reach but with everybody having to play each other we still feel we have a strong chance of second place.

"I thought we deserved something from the Havant game and the good thing was that we got a response after the shocking display against Tiverton.

"Against Halesowen we started brightly and perhaps if we had scored a second we might have settled down but we are short in midfield at the moment.

"We were delighted to see David Foy make an appearance against Havant and thought that would see us through to the end of the season but he picked up a groin strain."

Foy joins a lengthy list of players struggling with groin injuries but Tuohy puts that down to coincidence.

"We've tried to change things by doing stretching exercises but I think it's coincidence that these things have happened all at once," he said. "The biggest problem has been long term.

"We've not really had much opportunity to play our best side in the last four months.

"With John Snape, David Foy and Pat Lyons, who I thought was outstanding in the first half of the season, we had good players who kept the ball and broke teams down.

"At the moment we are just not doing that and I think we are also lacking a predatory striker.

"That's not a criticism of the lads that are here but I think it is something John will be looking at."

Weymouth, who drew 0-0 with City back in November, moved up to 15th place -- five points clear of the relegation zone -- with a 2-0 midweek victory over Bath.

FORMCAST: City to rediscover their form with a 2-1 win.