St Neots Town boss David Batch insists it is essential his team improve their home record, starting tonight.

The Saints begin a run of three successive Premier Plus Stadium fixtures when entertaining Histon in a Southern League Premier Division derby (7.45pm).

Batch was heartened by his side’s collection of six points during a run of five away matches in a row which culminated in a 2-2 deadlock at Slough last Saturday.

But they remain in the bottom half of the table and nine points off the play-off place with the need to improve performances on their home turf.

Saints have won only four of their nine Premier Division games in front of their own fans to date and Batch admits: “We need to do a lot better at home than we have done so far this season.

“We’ve done pretty well during the run of away games with a win and three draws.

“We could have won a couple more of those games as well, especially the one at Slough.

“We missed a penalty with 10 minutes to go on a day when both of the home team’s goals had come as a result of refereeing mistakes.

“The results and performances at home have not been good enough although we have been hit hard by injuries and unavailability.

“Unfortunately that looks like being the case again tonight and in the next couple of games as well.”

Batch has major defensive problems with Tom Ward, Shane Blackett and Mat Mitchel-King all out of the Histon clash. Adam Tann is likely to be asked to play through the pain of a cartilage injury.

Further forward, Remy Gordon is likely to feature again after returning to the fray at Slough following more than three months out with a broken leg.

Top-scorer Tom Meechan completes a three-match suspension.