ATHERTON Collieries boss Michael Clegg believes his side must pick themselves up after claiming only one point from their last two matches.

The Alder House side suffered a 1-0 defeat to Bootle in the North West Counties Premier League on Saturday and followed it up with a 1-1 draw with top-of-table Barnoldswick.

On Saturday, they take on favourites for promotion Runcorn Linnets but Clegg admits the team want to get back to winning ways soon.

He said: "We are very disappointed out of the two games to have only picked up a point from the high standards we set early in the season.

"We had plenty of chances on Monday night and we should have won.

"Mark Truffas scored after 15 minutes when he fired home Ben Hardcastle's rebound shot.

"Then there was a sucker-punch late on with a ball into the box and after a melee the referee pointed to the spot and they scored."

Clegg admits it is changed times to last season.

He said: "We won 58 out our 68 games and we have developed a winning mentality but when you lose one match and drawn the next.

"But you could look at it another way we drew against the leaders.

"We have got the favourites for the title Runcorn on Saturday but we work better when there is no pressure for a result."