Deal Town manager Derek Hares admits he is desperate to end his team's current poor run of results when they travel to Erith Town on Saturday.

Last weekend’s 4-3 home reverse by Tunbridge Wells was Deal’s fourth defeat in a row – during which they have conceded 17 goals – but Hares insisted: "Although our performance wasn’t great on Saturday, it was a lot better than when we lost 6-1 to Holmesdale."

Hares had to field a makeshift back four against Wells and it showed but defenders Jordan Miller (thigh injury) and Ian Wallace (holiday) are available again this Saturday along with midfielder Aaron Robinson, who had work commitments last weekend.

But centre-back Grant Bagley is still ruled out by suspension along with midfielder Jack Collins, while Hares may also have lost the services of Roy Guiver, who played for Folkestone Invicta on Tuesday night.

He said: "I brought Roy here primarily as a centre-half and, although he has been playing up front for us recently, he needs to improve his fitness if he wants to get back in the side."

Hares added: "I thought some good things came out of Saturday’s game. Steve O’Brien is settling in nicely and Mo Takaloo’s second goal was a touch of class. I think people within the club understand what we are trying to achieve in difficult circumstances but whether people outside do is a different matter."

Picture: Roy Guiver, left, played against Greenwich on Saturday but turned out for Folkestone Invicta on Tuesday