DORCHESTER Town manager Steve Thompson believes bottom club Staines Town are an unknown ahead of their Evo-Stik Southern Premier South clash at the Clayson Stadium tomorrow (3pm).

Thompson was livid as the Magpies delivered a wretched display during a 1-0 loss to Frome Town on Tuesday night.

And Dorchester now host basement side Staines, the seemingly relegation-doomed Swans fielding a youthful team in their 10-3 drubbing by Basingstoke Town last time out.

Dorchester have already thrashed Staines 6-1 this season but Thompson insisted all focus was within his camp going into the contest.

He told Echosport: “I don’t know what to expect, I don’t know what team they play. The rumour was they play a lot of youth team players. I don’t think that rumour would’ve got round unless it was true.

“I don’t know if they’re going to do that again. All I can do is take care of our team and pick the team I think will give us the best chance of winning the game.”

Asked what he would say to the players during midweek to lift them after the Frome defeat, Thompson admitted he had already spoken to them post-match.

He said: “I’ve done most of my talking because I’m not full-time, I don’t see the players, we’ve (only) got (training).

“I have to put a lot of thought into some players. You look at Harry Kite and Ben Seymour. They played 90 minutes Saturday.

“They then travelled to Norwich away on a Monday, played 90 minutes, then they’re involved (against Frome).

“Sometimes you can get absolutely saturated with football matches and you just end up getting bogged down. I have to think whether they’re better off doing their quiet stuff with Exeter. They already have their routines.”

After heavily criticising his players following the defeat to Frome, Thompson also admitted he would have to do some inward thinking.

He said: “I’ve let the players know there was a great opportunity, without going over the top, not saying it was a must-win game.

“I have to look at myself as well. I felt that Saturday was a real boost to come into (the Frome) game off the back of beating sixth in the league.

“But it counted for nothing and that inconsistency is driving me crazy.”

Brennan Camp (international duty) and Callum Rose (ankle) remain out, while Josh Williams will be assessed and centre-back Ross Carmichael could return.