ANDY Preece thinks people should not be too surprised if Worcester City beat Droylsden.

City endured a mixed run of results last month - beating bottom side Lancaster and Redditch but losing to Leigh and Scarborough and dropping points against Vauxhall Motors and Stalybridge.

Saturday's trip to face the Bloods at the Butchers Arms is the first of two testing away days in the space of three days, with Hinckley United to come on Monday.

Droylsden have lost just once in 12 league games since their 3-1 defeat at St George's Lane in November but Preece is confident of the double despite his side's 2-1 loss to Evesham in the Worcestershire Senior Cup.

Mark Danks, Craig Wilding, Chris Cornes and Justin Thompson all started on Wednesday, while Adam Webster and Nick Colley came off the bench.

The player-manager said: "I was disappointed with the result. Given the side we had out, I would have expected us to win the game.

"I don't take too much from the Evesham performance. We have got six points from nine, been beaten once in the last five league games and have players coming into form.

"We go to Droylsden on the front foot, looking to get a good result. They are a good side and will probably battle it out with Kettering for the title.

"We are eighth in the league and they are top. It wouldn't be a massive surprise if we won. We are in contention and can definitely go there and win the game."

Droylsden's visit in November, which saw striker Terry Fearns sent off, is remembered most for a bizarre first-half incident.

Kevin Lynch equalised when he booted the ball back to Danny McDonnell following treatment to Des Lyttle.

Bloods boss Dave Pace allowed City to score a free' goal to restore their one-goal advantage and Preece was full of praise for the visitors' sportsmanship.

Given the freak nature of events, the City boss counted that as a third clean sheet in a row following back-to-back shut-outs at Hyde and Lancaster. But Worcester have managed to keep just one since -against Kettering Town on New Year's Day.

Preece said: "We don't really seem to be giving teams lots of chances but, when we do, we seem to get punished.

"You get spells like that and I am sure there will be a time when we are fortunate to keep clean sheets."