BASINGSTOKE Town manager Jason Bristow is looking for a reaction from his players as they look to end a four-match winless run.

The Camrose club host Hayes and Yeading United on Saturday (kick-off 3pm) having lost four of their last six outings. It’s a run that has seen Town slip to eighth in the Conference South table, while their FA Cup campaign came to an early end at the hands of Weston-super-Mare last weekend.

Bristow was especially disappointed with his side’s defending on Saturday, while a lacklustre second half display also left him troubled.

“We conceded three poor goals,” the Town boss said. “You cannot plan for some of the mistakes made but there are areas that we need to speak to individuals and the whole squad about.

“However, the biggest disappointment was the second half performance. Once we went behind, we did not look like getting back into the game.

“We will look to react in a positive way and focus on how we can beat Hayes.

“We are a club in progress, looking to develop and improve. Saturday was a setback but we need to stay positive because both we as coaches and the players believe that trying to play more of a passing game is the right thing to do. It’s going to take time, we just need people to stick with us.”

Hayes also go into the game on the back of an FA Cup exit, having lost 2-1 at home to Tonbridge Angels in a replay on Tuesday night.

Bristow expects the Middlesex club to play with plenty of attacking intent but believes his side are capable of nullifying this and maintaining their unbeaten home record in the league.

“If we defend like we did earlier in the season, we can hurt them going forward,” he said.

Town will continue to be without injured duo Simon Dunn (knee) and Jordace Holder-Spooner (shoulder).

On Tuesday, Town travel to US Portsmouth in the Hampshire Senior Cup.

Go to basingstokegazette.co.uk/sport for live text updates from both games.