BRIDPORT manager Adam Fricker has called for his players to “dictate the game” when the Bees travel to rock-bottom Longwell Green Sports in the Toolstation Western League Premier Division tonight (7.30pm).

Sports have collected just one point from 17 games this season, while Bridport have risen up the table to ninth having won their past three league games and five of their last six in all competitions.

Despite the Green’s poor form, Fricker is wary of the potential “banana skin” that awaits them after beating struggling Hallen 3-0 on Saturday.

He said: “We just need to do what we do. I said to the lads that Hallen were down there and they were quite strong.

“Longwell will be as well, we just need to make sure that we do the right things and hope that our quality shines through. It’s definitely a banana skin as it’s a game that we expect to win.

“We’ve got to be ourselves and dictate the game and not let them get a sniff. If you concede an early goal it does knock you. We’ll just look to be on the offensive.

“As soon as we got the early goal (against Hallen) we settled and it deflated them and gave us that extra superiority.”

With Hallen being the first of eight December fixtures for Fricker’s men, the Bees were able to rest several players in preparation for the trip to Sports.

Fricker said: “We were able to take three players out of Saturday’s starting XI in readiness. Provided we can keep the squad fit, everyone is good enough to be in most starting XIs in this league.

“Leigh Bailey and Mark Salter are missing with work commitments and we’ve got a doubt over Kameron Andrews, he’s still struggling with an ankle injury.

“I think he’s going to struggle with two games in a week and Alan Hill is missing as well.”

But Fricker hopes to remedy the lack of cover in defence by signing former Yeovil Town defender Owen Irish from Tiverton Town on a short-term dual registration deal before kick-off.

He said: “We’re trying to push through a deal for Owen. He’s a centre-back and it’s probably one of the only positions where we would look to get someone. He’s a very accomplished defender.

“Other than that we seem to be fine. Hopefully after Tuesday Leigh will be back until the middle of January. That maybe gives us the opportunity to solve Kam’s ankle injury.”