MANAGER Paul West feels Evesham United can mount a challenge for the British Gas Business Premier Division play-offs.

The Robins put their FA Cup first-round heartbreak behind them with a 2-0 league victory at Stourbridge on Tuesday and head to Rugby on Saturday (3pm) looking to make it six games unbeaten in the league.

Victory at Butlin Road could move United inside the top 10 with games in hand because of their cup exploits.

West said: “Although we have got a few games in hand, it’s important to utilise them as best we can.

“There’s no reason why we can’t have a crack at the play-offs but there are no easy games. Saturday will be no different so we need to be on our guard.”

The Robins boss also saw the Stourbridge success as the ideal tonic for his side following back-to-back cup defeats against Torquay and the Glassboys in the FA Trophy.

He said: “Although the cup has been fantastic for the club it can leave a bit of a headache sometimes.

“To be playing at that level in front of big crowds, no disrespect to anyone, but it does bring you back down to earth at Stourbridge on a cold Tuesday night.

“There were a few hangovers from the weekend and we were pretty poor in the first-half.

“It was a bit of a Joe Calzaghe performance in terms of football.

“We had a bang early on and we got back up to put it right later on in the game.”

Midfielder Mark Hands should return to the side after missing the Stourbridge match with a groin problem.