BANBURY United boss Paul Davis said his side will only escape relegation from the Evo-Stik Southern League Premier Division if they improve their defensive record.

No side in the league has conceded more goals than United’s who have let in 81 and Davis says they have to tighten up at home to Paulton Rovers tomorrow.

“If we can defend as a team, we will score goals and win games,” Davis insisted.

“If you don’t concede goals you can’t lose games, so we need to be defensively brighter and more astute.

“We need to get some consistency, but we need to do it now.

“It’s no good finding form in two or three games, because it will be too late by then.”

Banbury’s 4-3 Oxfordshire Senior Cup semi-final win over Ardley United on Tuesday was a case in point, as they twice squandered the lead, before sealing it in extra-time.

Despite playing a gruelling 120 minutes in the week, Davis has a full squad to choose from.

He said: “We’ve not had a midweek game for a long time and I think the players are fresh.

“It’s my job to maybe move a couple around and make sure the side we send out is fit.

“We have a couple of knocks, but they’ll get a bit of treatment in training and with eight games to go sometimes you have to play even when you’re carrying a little niggle.”

Banbury Utd (v Paulton Rov, away): from Bedwell, Walcott, Cray, Abdellah, Meade, Ryan, Green, Martin, Tahin, George, Howards, Fishwick, Weston, Tappin, Amegnaglo, Browne, Westbrook, Lewars, Daffern, Isaac.