MARK Bower hopes his Bradford (Park Avenue) side can stop the rot and end a run of three successive league defeats tomorrow.

Avenue have slipped to second in Vanarama National League North, six points and a game in hand behind leaders Chorley after losing their last three games against Guiseley, Stockport County and FC United of Manchester.

Now Bower’s men hope to get back to winning ways when they host eighth-placed Blyth Spartans at Horsfall Stadium.

Avenue will be boosted by the return of midfielder Nicky Clee, while Jamie Spencer is back after serving a one-match suspension for the clash against the north-east side.

Despite the poor recent run, Bower remains optimistic of a quick turnaround but has called on his charges to be more clinical in front of goal and keep more clean sheets.

Avenue have created a number of chances in all three of their successive defeats to start the new year, but have not won since beating Guiseley on Boxing Day.

Bower said: “We go into tomorrow’s game fairly confident still, we are second in the league.

“Blyth are going really well in the league and the FA Trophy. It is going to be a tough game for us. We have had some good battles with them in the past.

“In terms of where we are in the league, we have lost our last three games, so we want to get back on track. That is our sole objective. We need to stop this run and get back to winning ways.

“Blyth come into the game probably thinking it’s a good time to play us. But we are not playing too badly, we have just been on the end of a few tight ones.

“The Guiseley defeat was really tight, Stockport are the form team in the league at the moment and we were well beaten for 45 minutes when we played them.

“The last game against FC United of Manchester we had more possession, more shots and more chances. That was a tight game too.

“We haven’t played any worse in the three defeats than we did at the start of the season when we were winning against teams like Spennymoor and Boston United.

“If we continue to create chances, we are going to win far more matches than we will lose.

“We need to get back to keeping clean sheets, that gives us a good base.

“We have got to get back to being clinical in front of goal. We have just go to keep working hard.”

Meanwhile, Avenue fans can have their say on the club with key officials tonight.

Owner Gareth Roberts and chief executive officer Damian Irvine will answer supporters’ questions at Avenue’s clubhouse from 7pm.