Blues boss Simon Davies is anxious to extract three points from City's match against The Bees after losing his first three games at the helm.

Davies will try and steer Chester to only their second win of the year and lay a foundation after the club's miserable run that has seen City claim just one win from their last 17 games.

He said: "It has been a rude awakening for me and a bit cruel to see us creating chances and getting beat.

"But I've told the players that we can't afford to feel sorry for ourselves and that we must keep going and working hard. I firmly believe that if we can keep believing then it will come good.

"I've got faith in my own ability and in the ability of the players in our squad, but until we start putting our chances away we're going to find ourselves in a dodgy position if we're not careful."

Davies is praying that attacking midfielder, Kevin Ellison, can start converting his opportunities after seeing the winger's close-range header saved during Blues' 1-0 home defeat against Bradford City on Wednesday night.

He added: "We're getting done for every defensive mistake at the moment, but I still don't know how Kevin Ellison missed his four-yard header.

"Kevin is making all the right runs and getting in all the right positions, but you'd think the scoring would come naturally.

"It's hard to go into the dressing room and ask him why he didn't score from four yards, but I did, and it was a bit cruel.

"I'm sure if he had another 10 chances he'd have put all 10 in.

"At the moment it's not quite running for us, but I'm sure it will come."

Davies may keep faith with young striker Paul McManus alongside experienced targetman John Murphy, for City's trip to Underhill.

He said: "I had a word with both Paul McManus and Paul Rutherford during the half-time break against Bradford.

"I thought McManus was rushing things compared to when he played for the reserves.

"He would normally take an extra touch, take a little bit more care, and put his chance in the net, but he was probably rushing because of where we are in the league table and because of our need to pick up points.

"But I was generally pleased with McManus and Rutherford's performances and with the way we used width against Bradford to create chances.

"I still feel we have more than enough on the pitch to do well, but the matches have to start swinging in our favour."

Davies confirmed that defender and newly-appointed assistant manager, Paul Butler, and midfielders Richie Partridge and Tony Grant, were all unlikely to be available for tomorrow's match: "I think it's more realistic for all three to be fit and ready for action for when we entertain Darlington a week on Saturday," he said.

"Tomorrow's game is probably a bit too soon for Buts (Paul Butler) and Tony (Grant) to return, and Richie (Partridge) was close to a return until he pulled a calf muscle on the training ground."