CHRIS Palmer says it would be a “disaster” if his Malvern Town side fail to beat rock-bottom Cradley Town tomorrow (ko 3pm) in the Aspire Midland Alliance.

The Langland Stadium boss is set to keep faith with the same side that secured a midweek derby draw with Westfields for their upcoming league double header.

After a trip to Cradley, Malvern host fellow strugglers Bridgnorth next Tuesday (ko 7.45pm). Palmer has identified these two ties as must-wins as Town aim to pull away from the drop-zone.

A Craig Selby brace and another strike from Troy Wood saw the Langland Stadium side grab a 3-3 draw with the Herefordshire side in a rearranged league tie.

But Malvern travelled with just 12 players with Palmer forced to accommodate his three strikers Selby, Wood and Alex Taffe in an attacking 4-4-3 formation, a line-up the manager plans to stick with tomorrow.

Cradley are the league’s basement boys with just six points, have a minus-77 goal difference and are yet to record a league win this season.

They crashed to a 7-1 home defeat to Coventry Sphinx on Tuesday night. For Malvern, defender Kyle Knott, Mike Rhodes and midfielders Connor O’Callaghan and Bradley Birch are all in contention tomorrow. Defender Ryan Clarke is also available after four weeks on the sidelines with an ankle ligament injury.

Malvern’s home league match with Loughborough University last Saturday will have to be rearranged after it was postponed due to snow.

Palmer said: “If we don’t get anything other than three points tomorrow it will be a disaster.”