Rugby Town go into today's meeting with Hemel Hempstead Town desperate to turn round a dreadful run of defeats at Butlin Road.

	Date Saturday 8th March 2008 Kick-off 3pm Venue Butlin Road, Rugby Comp BGB Premier Divsion Match Odds Rugby 11/4 Draw 11/4 Hemel 8/11 19-year-old striker David Kolodynski was on target with his fifth goal of the season and is expected to start two consecutive games for the first time this season Head2Head P W D L F A Home 3 0 1 2 5 8 Away 3 0 0 3 6 11 Total 6 0 1 5 11 19

Since Rod Brown's appointment in January, Rugby are yet to collect as much as a single point in league games at Butlin Road after four attempts with defeats to TeamBath, Swindon Supermarine, Hitchin Town and Gloucester City.

And with five of the last eight games at Butlin Road, it is vitally important that Valley make a substantial improvement in home performances.

Last weekend's draw away to fourth-placed Chippenham Town was more than encouraging in terms of performance and boss Rod Brown knows that it will take that kind of performance for each of the remaining games if Rugby are to avoid relegation:

"Overall it was a disciplined performance, and I believe we at least deserved the draw, and we had the chances to get more than that from the game," said Rod.

Rugby-born forward David Kolodynski netted a late equaliser for Valley against the Bluebirds to earn a valuable point.

"The equaliser took a while to come, and despite this our supporters were very patient on the day and I thank them for that."

Previous to the Chippenham draw, Rugby lost to Hitchin and Glocuester at home, conceding seven goals in the process and Rod was deeply unhappy with the performances:

"What had happened in the previous two matches was unacceptable though. I thought the Cirencester victory the week prior to that was going to be our platform to build upon, but we showed a lack of passion and desire in the games that followed.

"We didn't train on the Thursday evening before Chippenham, and instead sat down and had a long discussion with the lads. We got a lot of things out in the open, and I tried to get the players to understand that this football club deserved better than they had got in the last couple of matches.

"I have asked them to take more responsibility for their performances and also for those of other team members. I am a passionate person and I strongly believe in this football club and its potential, and I have asked that the players match those feelings in the coming weeks.

"The lads responded positively at Chippenham and have now set themselves a standard that they must match - and indeed surpass - in the final eight games this season to make sure we get the points we require to survive."

Rugby's record against Hemel can be described as poor at best - with five defeats from the six previous meetings between the sides.

Valley went down 4-2 at the Vauxhall Ground in August earlier in the season when full back Aaron Stringfellow memorably donned the goalkeeping gloves in the second half due to injury to Alessandro Barcherini.

Last season, Rugby suffered two defeats to Hemel at Butlin Road - 3-0 in the league in saturated conditions in January and a 4-3 Errea Cup Semi Final defeat where Valley had cruised into a 3-0 lead at half time before buckling in the second half.

Rugby are likely to be without midfielder Scott Musgrove who is struggling for fitness with a leg injury while Rod has announced this week that Willis Francis has been released.

Rugby Town Squad From: Richard Anstiss, Aaron Stringfellow, Stephan Morley, Craig Herbert, Delroy Gordon, Ashley Blake, Richard Scott, Neil King, Tom Breward, Kieran Fitzharris, Mark Edge, David Staff, David Kolodynski, David Stone, Dave Pearson.