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CALF STRAIN: Trevor Challis

WEYMOUTH boss John Hollins reckons two home games in the next four days provides his side with a "good opportunity" to climb away from the Blue Square Premier drop-zone.

The Terras will take on Oxford United at the Wessex Stadium tomorrow before hosting Grays Athletic on Tuesday, and with the teams around them all picking up points in recent weeks two positive results could prove invaluable.

Hollins, whose side is currently two points above the bottom four in 18th spot, said: "Last Saturday's 4-2 defeat at Farsley Celtic was very disappointing but it was one game and that is how we need to look at things. It's all about picking up points and we have got two games at home now where we will have a good opportunity to do just that.

"I don't actually think we have played so well going forward as we did at Farsley. We created enough chances to win two games but you have to take them.

"I think the turning point was when James Coutts hit a post, had that gone in I think it would have been all over but as I said that is done and now we must move on.

"None of our remaining games will be easy. Grays had a good result last Saturday while Oxford were disappointing but they will come here wanting to impress their manager.

"We do appear to be doing better against the bigger sides and whether that is down to concentration I do not know. But one thing is for sure, and that is we will need to fully concentrate and be at our best in these next two games because they could have a big impact on where we end up."

Weymouth won 1-0 at Oxford earlier in the season under former boss Jason Tindall but Hollins was also at the Kassam Stadium that evening and is hoping for a similar outcome this weekend.

He added: "I was at that game and the team that was put out did very well and could have had more but that has been the story of it all season.

"It is extremely tight down at the bottom but if we can put together a run of two or three good results then that gap we are looking to create may just start to appear.

"However, if everyone keeps picking up points and winning it will remain tight and that is when we will have to keep cool and try not to lose any players."

Torquay have recalled Tony Bedeau while Paolo Vernazza, Marcus Browning, Trevor Challis, Lewis Ironside and Jake Hyde are all sidelined with injuries.

Hollins said: "We would like to thank Tony very much for all his efforts. We did not want him to go back but Torquay have injury problems themselves and require his services.

"I have managed to bring in Mark Convery which is a boost but Paolo, Marcus and Trevor are all still out.

"Marcus is fighting and doing everything he can to get back fit but it is taking some time. Paolo is also working hard but groin problems are horrible things because they are hidden. At the moment he is walking and jogging but when you stretch for a ball it can easily go again so it is important we give it enough time to heal.

"As for Trevor, what looked like a little tweak is actually a calf strain so it is going to take a while for him to return as well.

"Lewis is still having problems with his ankle and I think it is all gearing up now for him to go to hospital to have an operation while Jake is a week to ten days away.

"He is back at Swindon Town doing all his physical work and if we can have him back for the last three or four games it would be a nice surprise."

9:16am Friday 4th April 2008

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