Baffins bidding to extend Cowes’ miserable home record – and bag their first Wessex League points of the new decade

Rovers travel to Westwood Park still searching for their first Wessex League Premier Division point since December 7.

Since then, Baffins have lost to Lymington at home and at AFC Stoneham, Christchurch and AFC Portchester.

But Cowes have suffered 10 successive home losses in all competitions. In seven of those, they have conceded four or more goals - the most recent last Tuesday’s 4-1 drubbing by Fareham.

Their only home league win of 2019/20 was a 1-0 success against Shaftesbury at the end of September.

Baffins boss Steve Leigh came away with plenty of positives from the 3-2 loss at Portchester.

'At times I thought we were the better team and the goals we conceded were all our own undoing,' he said.

'That is something we have to eradicate because it is letting us down.

'It is vital that we remain switched on for the whole 90 minutes.

'We also failed to take good chances at crucial times.

'Basically, we have to be far more clinical in both boxes.

'We are in a very similar situation to the one we were in at this stage last season.

'Then we had a poor month before turning the corner.

'I can see glimpses of us getting back to where we should be.

'With more games being on, we are starting to regain our match fitness.'

Baffins expect to have Ben Spranger back but the manager’s son, Ashton Leigh, is likely to return to Bognor Regis Town after featuring at Portchester.

Cowes will be boosted by the fact they ended a nine-game losing league streak with a 3-3 draw at Bournemouth at the weekend.