WORCESTER City travel to sixth-placed Altrincham tomorrow (3pm) looking to finally end their wretched run.

Seven consecutive defeats have dropped the St George’s Lane club from play-off contenders to 14th in Blue Square Bet North in a matter of weeks.

Not so long ago, this fixture would have been billed as a clash between two promotion rivals but now City will be happy just to stop the rot.

Carl Heeley’s side lost 3-0 at home to Gainsborough Trinity last Monday, taking their wait for a goal to 455 minutes of football.

But the manager was pleased with his players’ efforts and insists more of the same will see them back on the victory trail.

“It’s no good sulking. I want smiles on faces,” he said.

“We haven’t got off our sticky run so we’ll try again tomorrow and if it doesn’t happen then we’ll try again in the next game.

“There’s no pressure on the boys whatsoever.

“If they keeping working with that attitude, it will turn for us.

Heeley added: “Altrincham are an average side with two or three top-class players and we’ve got to deal with them because if we can there won’t be much between us.”

“They’ve scored a lot of goals and we’ve got to get back to being difficult to beat and also not shipping goals.

“It’s difficult being a defender when you’ve not got a goal to hang on to and it does get a bit demoralising.

“But, as a team, we’ve got to work harder to stop the ball going in our net and a goal will come for us I’m sure.”

New striker Ethan Moore came closest to ending Worcester’s barren spell in front of goal against Gainsborough and could keep his place up front.

On-loan Walsall winger Kieron Morris will hope for another chance after failing to get off the bench against Trinity.

Captain Stuart Whitehead is Worcester’s chief injury concern with a groin problem to follow fellow defenders Ellis Deeney (ankle) and Jacob Rowe (knee) into the treatment room.

Right-back Tyler Weir was rested for the final floodlit game at the Lane and could come back into contention, while Danny Edwards should keep his place on the left.

Lee Sinnott’s Altrincham are bidding for a fifth straight victory after wins over Colwyn Bay, Solihull Moors, Droylsden and Oxford City.