Baffins boss looks to pick his players ‘up off the floor’ after agonising midweek defeat at Horndean

A last-gasp penalty condemned them to a 2-1 Wessex Premier Division defeat at Horndean - their third league and cup setback in a row.

Rovers now face three more away trips in the space of eight days.

League games at Fleet Town this weekend and Hamworthy on October 10 take place either side of a Wessex League Cup trek to the Isle of Wight next Tuesday to face lower division Newport.

‘I’ve got to try and pick the lads up off the floor,’ said Wilkinson.

‘They were extremely disappointed not to get the point at Horndean that I thought we deserved.

‘Not many teams will go to Horndean and dominate the ball like we did in the second half going down the hill

‘We were only beaten by a worldie and a penalty.

‘We need to tighten up at the back, stop giving away penalties - that’s four we’ve given away now - and show a bit more quality in the final third.’

Left-back Brandon Miller is unavailable after suffering a head injury at Horndean that required hospital treatment.

Zac Sharpe, who switched from right back to left back after Miller was stretchered off, could continue in that position.

Jamie White and Charlie Cooper could be added to the squad that lost in midweek.

‘Competition for places is hot,’ said Wilkinson, who was able to give midfielder George Way a second sub run-out at Horndean.

Kurt Watts and Adam Brice were unused subs and still await their first competitive start of 2020/21.

Fleet are fresh from their first league win last weekend, a 6-1 thrashing of Cowes Sports helped by a Billy Oram hat-trick.