Mark Morsley has ramped up the pressure on his struggling side, ahead of two bumper Ryman Premier clashes in the next five days.

The Marketmen, last season’s Ryman North champions, remain without a victory at their new level, although they did rescue a late draw at Burgess Hill Town at the weekend.

Tonight, they travel to Brentwood Town, before hosting Lewes on Saturday.

Needham sit third from bottom in the division, five points from safety, with Brentwood in 15th position and Lewes just above the Suffolk side in 20th.

Morsley, who is still on the look-out for new faces, has added Michael Brothers (Brantham Athletic), Danny Gay (St Neots) and Jay Davies (Biggleswade) to his squad in recent weeks and believes his team are getting better. However, he is refusing to sugar-coat the situation, and is desperate for his charges to secure their first league victory.

“We have two very big games ahead,” said Morsley.

“Brentwood have strengthened no end, both on the playing and management side and are clearly giving it a go with Dean Holdsworth (manager) and George Borg (coach) in charge.

“It is not going to be easy but we need to win and follow that up with our first home win of the season on Saturday.

“That game (Lewes) is a six-pointer, even in October, and while some would say I should not be putting pressure on my players at this stage of the season, I would say ‘get real’ we need a win.”

n Elsewhere this evening, fourth-top AFC Sudbury entertain Heybridge Swifts and their newly-appointed manager Jody Brown at the Wardale Williams Stadium, in Ryman North.

Sudbury are without a win in three games in all competitions and were defeated in the FA Cup at Eastbourne Borough at the weekend.

Heybridge’s new boss is no stranger to the club.

He was previously manager from December 2013 replacing Mark Hawkes and leading the team to the play-off semi-final.

Brown departed that summer to join Grays Athletic in the Ryman Premier Division. Returning to the club as director of football is ex-Leiston manager Steve Pitt.

Seventh-top Bury Town, meanwhile, go to Soham Town Rangers in Ryman North tonight.