BROMSGROVE Rovers' manager Jimmy Mullen has challenged his out of sorts side to lift the gloom at the Victoria Ground with two victories over the Christmas period.

The Rovers boss is aware that two home victories over Cinderford and Clevedon would lift the supporters' morale, which was severely dented by the 3-1 defeat to Ashford, and resuscitate the team's promotion hopes in the Southern League Division One West.

At the moment Rovers are in the bottom half of the table, but after Sunday's game against Thame United was called off Mullen's side have four games in hand on many of its rivals for promotion.

Mullen said: "Two wins over Christmas and we're right back in the hunt for promotion. We've had some disappointments but we need to focus on where we need to go now.

"There is still a long way to go in the season and if we can find some consistency then we have a chance of going up. We have made life difficult for ourselves, but there is nothing like a few wins to raise the spirits.

"Cinderford and Clevedon have had good runs this season, but we have proved that we can beat sides from a higher level so we should have no fear."

Rovers' match against Thame was called off because the pitch at Aylesbury United, where the bottom side is based currently, was in no state to be played on. The surface had not recovered from Aylesbury's game against Tiverton the previous day.

Assistant manager Bernard Mackie said: "It's frustrating not to be playing because we had something to prove after the Ashford loss.

"Before that we were on a decent run in the league and we'll want to continue that over Christmas."

The postponement means that Rovers will not have a chance to bounce back from the Ashford loss in a league match until Cinderford come to Rovers on Tuesday, December 27.

Rovers then face another severe test of their promotion credentials on New Year's Eve when title chasing Clevedon come to Rovers.

Mullen admits he would love to sign Atherstone Town goal machine Roy Dunkley after watching him take apart Meir KA on Saturday. Dunkley bagged a hat trick, his seventh of the season, to make it 44 so far for the Midland Combination Premier Division leaders.

He said: "He's got the ability to play at a higher level. Roy has that natural goal scoring ability."

The Rovers boss is hoping to contact the striker in the next week to discus a move to the Victoria Ground.

By Peter McKinney