DENIS Underwood is showing a ruthless streak as he bids to avoid the NWCL Division One relegation fight his side had last season.

Harwood have had a good start to this campaign - they have only lost twice in the league - and will be looking to continue this but face a tough game against title hopefuls St Helens at the Showground tonight.

"I told the players at the start of the season, I wouldn't go through what I went through last season and we have started to get results," said the boss. "We want them to do what me and John (Hughes, the assistant) tell them.

"I like a laugh with the best of them but at 2.15pm the focus is not on what people have done last week, it is on the business in hand.

"If they don't want to play for us then I will bring someone else in. This season we would like a mid-table place and perhaps a cup run and then build on that for next season."

The Harwood boss is waiting on the fitness of a couple of players one being his keeper Daryl Sloane. The shot-stopper suffered a dead leg in the 3-1 loss at Curzon Ashton last Saturday.

"He is more than 50-50 and we are hopeful especially as Russell Whalley, the keeper from last season, has just had an operation. Otherwise there will be a lot of ringing round."

Underwood could go in goal himself but is hoping to avoid that.

He is also waiting on news from skipper Neil Kennedy who took a bang on his ankle.

Meanwhile, Underwood is hoping his midfielders will chip in with a few goals to relieve the pressure on top scorer Graham Lightbown.

Lightbown has got seven goals this season while his team-mates are far behind - Matt Raywood is next with two.

"Graham has been doing well. He has got seven in ten starts and when he doesn't score he always come close," said Underwood. "But we could do with the two midfielders James Coonan and Paul Demaine helping him out, James has got one but I think Paul needs a goal to ease the pressure on him."

He'll be hoping they will make their impact against St Helens.

"We want to play the top sides so we can gauge where we are. We played Mossley a couple of weeks ago and drew when we could have won. No one has battered us this season so it will be another good test for us." Rossendale FC are going places - Page 49 Denis

demands

DENIS Underwood is showing a ruthless streak as he bids to avoid the NWCL Division One relegation fight his side had last season.

Harwood have had a good start to this campaign - they have only lost twice in the league - and will be looking to continue this but face a tough game against title hopefuls St Helens at the Showground tonight.

"I told the players at the start of the season, I wouldn't go through what I went through last season and we have started to get results," said the boss. "We want them to do what me and John (Hughes, the assistant) tell them.

"I like a laugh with the best of them but at 2.15pm the focus is not on what people have done last week, it is on the business in hand.

"If they don't want to play for us then I will bring someone else in. This season we would like a mid-table place and perhaps a cup run and then build on that for next season."

The Harwood boss is waiting on the fitness of a couple of players one being his keeper Darryl Sloane. The shot-stopper suffered a dead leg in the 3-1 loss at Curzon Ashton last Saturday.

"He is more than 50-50 and we are hopeful especially as Russell Whalley, the keeper from last season, has just had an operation. Otherwise there will be a lot of ringing round."

Underwood could go in goal himself but is hoping to avoid that. He is also waiting on news from skipper Neil Kennedy who took a bang on his ankle.

Meanwhile, Underwood is hoping his midfielders will chip in with a few goals to relieve the pressure on top scorer Graham Lightbown.

Lightbown has got seven goals this season while his team-mates are far behind - Matt Raywood is next with two.

"Graham has been doing well," said Underwood. "But we could do with the two midfielders James Coonan and Paul Demaine helping him out, James has got one but I think Paul needs a goal to ease the pressure on him."

He'll be hoping they will make their impact against St Helens.

"We want to play the top sides so we can gauge where we are. We played Mossley a couple of weeks ago and drew when we could have won. No one has battered us this season so it will be another good test for us."