Dryden praises Worcester battlers

Dave Bampton is back in the Worcester squad at Fisher Athletic.

Worcester City manager Richard Dryden takes his team to Fisher Athletic in the Blue Square South on Saturday singing the praises of his players

Dryden says that despite cuts in the budget at St George's Lane, his players have kept them in mid-table.

"We're not in the bottom part of the table and that's down to the players working hard on the pitch.

"Fisher, Thurrock and Bognor have all had cuts. But they are at the bottom," Dryden told BBC Hereford & Worcester.

"Our players are putting in a lot more work than before the cuts."

Worcester now find themselves up against a Fisher side who are 21st in the Blue Square South table and now 14 points adrift of safety, having won just four times in 29 league games this season.

But the south east London side earned a 1-1 draw at St George's Lane back in September and Dryden warns against complacency.

"It's a game everybody thinks we should win," said Dryden. "And I think we should win, but somewhere along the line they have to change their fortunes.

"I'm told they are workmanlike and they are quick and strong, and the position they are in they have nothing to lose."

Dryden has concerns about the pitch at Champion Hill Stadium which he has been told is not the best in the league.

"It might not be the game to go and play wingers and dribble.

Dryden played a full 90 minutes for the reserves in midweek.

"We will work on some different things in training, and I'll decide how we are going to play when we get down there."

Dave Bampton is in the reckoning for a recall after a long injury lay-off, having come through a reserve game this week.

"He is on his way back," said Dryden. "We have been a bit cautious with him.

"We tried to rush him back and he was only half fit, so we have taken time in getting him back to full fitness."

Now over seven years on from his last game in league football at Luton Town, 39-year-old Dryden turned out in the reserve game himself - and played the whole game.

"It's a long time since I played 90 minutes," he admitted. "And I was very stiff the next day."

There will be reports from Peter McMillan at Champion Hill Stadium on BBC Hereford and Worcester.