PORTLAND United boss Franklyn Clarke admitted the onus is on the Blues to return to winning ways when Hythe & Dibden visit the Camp & Satherley Stadium tomorrow (3pm).

Wessex League Premier Division basement boys Hythe have won just once in 25 league games this season.

Their trip to Portland comes after Clarke’s men were dismissed 5-1 by joint-leaders Hamworthy United on Monday.

And Clarke, who returns from isolation for the contest, backed his players to earn victory in a game Portland are on paper expected to win.

“It’s important to bounce back after the Hamworthy performance,” he told Echosport.

READ MORE: Portland United 1-5 Hamworthy United - match report

“From what I’ve heard, it wasn’t great. I’d rather the performance levels were like that against Hamworthy than Hythe & Dibden.

“They’re the games we now expect ourselves to win. I don’t think the lads did themselves any justice against Hamworthy, but you quickly move on.

“Hythe & Dibden haven’t had the best season but over the last month or so they’ve invested in the squad and brought in a few lads who are decent players.

“They had a good result against Brock where they drew 1-1 then they put eight past Amesbury, so we’re certainly not taking them lightly.”

Clarke added: “We’re not going to dwell on the Hamworthy game too much, not going to over-analyse it. It’s just a bad day at the office.”

Blues’ skipper Ryan McKechnie is suspended after his second red card in two games came against the Hammers last time out.