Preview: Worcester City face Uttoxeter Town in relegation six-pointer

Visitors City are currently four points clear of their opponents in second-bottom having played two games less, and could extend that gap to seven.

Manager Chris Cornes will be buoyed by the fact his side have won four of their last seven in the league, but consistency remains an issue.

Having impressively beaten Shifnal Town 3-1 last Tuesday, they followed that up with a comprehensive defeat at home to Darlaston Town.

City had keeper Haydn Whitcombe sent-off early in their game with promotion-chasing Darlo before going on to lose 4-0 at Claines Lane. City will now be without their number one for the clash on Saturday following his red card, so youngster Dom Hill is expected to deputise in his place.

"I thought we were in the game until the red card, it was quite even," said Cornes at full-time.

"But you cannot legislate for a referee who is that bad, it was not a red card. 

"I’ve got an issue with him being supposedly last man, there were a minimum of two players around him when the tackle was made and he was a good 30-yards out.

Worcester City boss Chris Cornes. (Image: Through The Lens)

"I think it was a yellow card and nothing more than that, I’d wonder if a defender made that challenge would it have been a red?

"After the game, I asked the referee to clarify his decision, but he couldn’t give me a straight answer."

But it was a far worse afternoon for Uttoxeter, who shipped eight goals in a demoralising 8-0 defeat to Romulus. They remain favourites to go down with Market Drayton Town but have picked up some decent results in recent weeks; beating the likes of relegation rivals Wolverhampton Casuals and a 1-0 win at Atherstone Town.

With another relegation clash coming up for City at Casuals in mid-week, it could be a crucial few days for Cornes' men as they look to pull clear of trouble at the bottom.