Graham Drury pleads with Boston United fans ahead of a crucial week

Graham Drury has pleaded for Boston United fans to stick with him and his team ahead of a crucial week for the Pilgrims.

Drury's side slumped to their second straight defeat in Blue Square Bet North on Tuesday when they lost 4-2 at Harrogate Town.

That followed Saturday's 1-0 loss at Solihull Moors and leaves the Pilgrims looking nervously over their shoulder at the wrong end of the table.

While the Pilgrims are 13 points clear of the relegation zone, third-bottom Colwyn Bay have five games in hand.

With relegation still not out of the question, Drury is targeting some much-needed points when Boston host mid-table pair Vauxhall Motors on Saturday and Gloucester City on Tuesday.

"These two games are massive," conceded the former Stamford boss.

"If this Boston side turns up and plays the way it can, we can pick up points.

"I'd like to think we're too good to be drawn into a relegation battle, but we can't keep saying that, we've got to go out there and prove it.

"The players are giving me everything. On Tuesday night I couldn't give them any less than eight out ten.

"We're just making too many individual mistakes and they are costing us.

"As a manager, you can do all your work on the training ground, but you can't control that."

United have won just twice since Drury was appointed in December, with some impatient fans already questioning his appointment.

Drury admits results under his watch have fallen below expectations, but refuses to blame the influx of new players and the departures of others.

Left-back Jason Field became the club's latest signing earlier this week, replacing skipper Gareth Jelleyman, who was released by mutual consent last week.

"We've got to completely forget about the rebuild now, that's just looking for excuses," declared Drury.

"We've had long enough now and the points return is not good enough.

"Performance-wise, can you say the lads aren't giving everything? You can't."

Drury is urging supporters to be his team's "12th man", starting against Vauxhall on Saturday.

"The fans need to get behind the team, especially on Saturday," he said.

"Theses are two big games coming up and we really need their support. We need them to be our 12th man.

"If they want to see a team that is giving everything for the cause, they've got it.

"I would ask them to support me and support the team."

The Pilgrims will be boosted by the return of centre-back Phil Watt, who has served a two-match suspension.

After shipping four at Harrogate, the former Grantham Town and Lincoln City defender could come straight back into the side.

However, influential midfielder Anton Foster will sit out two games in March after picking up his tenth booking of the season.

The former Sheffield FC enforcer has been arguably the most impressive of Drury's new signings.

"It will be a real blow to lose Anton for those games," reflected Drury.

"He's been excellent for us and has allowed young Ben Milnes to get forward more. It's worked well because Ben has scored three in his last five games."