Leiston manager Glenn Driver is convinced his side are ready to dish out a ‘hiding’, as the Blues look to arrest an alarming slump of form.

The Victory Road outfit have lost five of their last six games in the Ryman Premier, their latest setback coming at home to lowly Merstham on Tuesday night, and are five points outside the play-offs now.

On Saturday, the one-time league leaders travel to second-bottom Hendon, who have won just one of their 16 home league games this season, and Driver is hoping their luck can turn, ahead of two huge home games against teams in the top-three

“I have had a couple of chats with players today (Wednesday) and we have agreed that someone is going to get a hiding soon,” said Driver.

“We might take a couple more before the end of the season, but you don’t score 80 goals in the league and suddenly lose that ability.

“We need to find an ugly, scruffy win from somewhere.”

“Hopefully we can go to Hendon on Saturday and play on a nice, flat pitch and pick up a win which will give us confidence going into two tough home games against Tonbridge (third) and Bognor (1st).”

Leiston took the lead against Merstham on Tuesday night, but after spurning a number of opportunities, were made to pay when former Ipswich Town winger Dean McDonald scored a superb solo goal, before Simon Cooper scored with a soaring free-kick from 45 yards to deflate the hosts.

“We should have been out-of-sight, we hit the bar and hit the post and missed other chances and maybe a bit of luck, that we perhaps had earlier in the season, deserted us,” added Driver

“But we don’t deserve anything if we are not going to defend properly or collectively and allow players to have shots from 25 yards, putting absolutely no pressure on them whatsoever.”

Despite recent disappointments, Driver is remaining positive, ahead of the run-in.

“We have got games in hand, but they will mean nothing if we don’t take advantage of them,” he explained.

“We can still catch Needham, Tonbridge and Wingate & Finchley and the games in hand give us a chance.”