CLITHEROE manager Lee Sculpher wants to see his side back on top of the NWCL first division by Saturday evening - and he wants his players to want it too.

Sculpher has been disappointed with the form of his side over the past couple of weeks.

He says the defence - who have conceded six goals in the last three games and of which he as centre half is an integral part - have been sloppy and they need to put it right against ambitious Salford tomorrow.

The Blues lost for the first time this season against Mossley at home on Tuesday, but Sculpher admitted it had been coming.

"We have been very sloppy for the last three games and we got our come-uppance on Tuesday.

"In the two games before Tuesday, we were 2-0 down against Atherton and drew 2-2 and were 2-1 down against Fleetwood and won 3-2 but I knew we couldn't keep getting away with it.

"We have conceded too many easy goals and it puts too much pressure on our forwards to score.

"It is very disappointing because up until then we had only conceded three goals in six games."

Influential left-back Barry Hart has been unavailable for the club's midweek games because of work commitments but other than his absence, Sculpher cannot put his finger on why mistakes are now being made.

But he knows they must put it right before tomorrow's game against one of the favourites for promotion.

"We should have learned our lessons from the two games before Tuesday's but now we have been beaten and hopefully that is the end of it now.

"Salford will be a very tough game, they are always up near the top.

"But as well as shoring up the defence we need more quality in the final third. In Lee Cryer I have one of the best headers of the ball in the league but we have not provided one decent cross for him all season.

"But to look at the positives we have lost one game in nine and hopefully we will bounce back against Salford.

"We knew the games this month would be tough and the end of them we will see more clearly where we stand."