CHICKERELL boss Dave Drage has told his men they will have to become a "bit more steetwise" if they are to start mixing it with the big boys in the Dorset Premier League.

The Chickens will travel to lowly Cobham Sports tomorrow looking to bounce back from last Saturday's 2-0 loss against leaders Wincanton Town.

Drage said: "We have lost three games out of seven so far so obviously we are not entirely happy but we have got to keep things in perspective.

"We have beaten three weaker sides and lost against three of the top sides so it is very much like what people told us in regards to there being six or seven better teams with the rest taking points off each other.

"We want to be in that top six or seven but to do that we need to get a bit more streetwise. When we commit a foul we pick the player up and say sorry while other teams are not like that.

"We are gentlemen but unfortunately you do not win anything being like that, instead you have got to compete with teams.

"We just have to keep playing our football and learning from the experience we receive from every game at this level.

"As we have already found out, there is a vast difference between the Dorset Premier and the Senior League."

Cobham currently sit second-bottom having claimed just one point from their opening seven games while Chickerell are seventh and have won three out of their last four.

Drage added: "Looking at their record on paper it should be a win but you never take anything for granted, particularly away from home.

"We were a bit disappointed last week and we are looking forward to seeing how the lads react and bounce back."

Liam Miles will miss out tomorrow for the Chickens. Drage said: "Liam is at a wedding so Andy Graham will come back in after missing last week.

"Apart from that we are expecting to have pretty much the same squad."

Defender Dan Welch received a late red card in the defeat against Wincanton but his punishment is yet to be decided.

Drage added: "We do not know what it is going to happen as we are still waiting for the referee's report.

"Once we get that then we will have a better idea."

Chickerell: Weeks, Wallis, Carter, Coombes, White, Welch, Henley, Graham, Roper, Turrell, Beads, Smith, Etherington, Sibley.