Bradford Park Avenue assistant manager Mark Hume has backed his players to come through their sticky patch.

They host Worcester City tomorrow, weather permitting, in the Conference North after being frustrated on New Year’s Day by the wet start to 2014.

A 4-1 defeat at Stockport County on Boxing Day was followed by Saturday’s 2-1 loss at North Ferriby.

Hume – who has been in sole charge over Christmas with John Deacey away on a short break – was determined to get something back from Wednesday’s return fixture against Stockport but a waterlogged pitch brought a damp ending to their holiday.

Hume said: “It wasn’t a 4-1 game at Stockport – they were fortunate with that scoreline – but if you get beaten 4-1 or 2-1 it’s still three points lost.

“We are on the ropes a bit at the moment and it’s not a good place.

“But we have been in these positions before and always come back fighting. John and I have been here before so we will be all right.

“One good thing about the New Year’s Day game being off is that players have had that extra few days of rest but Richard Marshall is still out because he couldn’t serve the last game of his two-match ban.”

Avenue are now 13th in the table and 15 points adrift of the play-off places. Tomorr-ow’s visitors Worcester are a lowly 21st, having played just one game fewer.

Hume added: “We need to get some players in but that could mean we have to send some players out on loan. We don’t want to lose any players but we have to work within a budget.”

Hume was working on some deals that he and Deacey had set up before he went abroad. Paul Beesley came in before the 1-0 defeat at Histon on December 21 but striker Tom Corner has gone out on a month’s loan to divisional rivals Barrow.

Deacey was due to be flying back from Australia today and is expected to be in the dugout tomorrow.