Stuart McCall is demanding a return to winning ways at Chester tonight.

City's managerless opponents have lost their last seven at home - and have won only once since Christmas.

McCall wants his side to pile on more agony at the Deva Stadium and pick themselves up after Saturday's jolt at Stockport.

That was City's first away loss in 2008 and the boss, who admitted his team were very much second best, is confident of an immediate response.

He said: "We will be going there to win the game in a positive frame of mind.

"We need to get the three points after losing the last two and it's a good chance for the lads to get Saturday out of the system.

"I was disappointed with our overall performance but our away record over the last two or three months has been pretty decent, almost play-off form, and we shouldn't lose sight of that."

With TJ Moncur struggling with a tight hamstring and Matt Clarke still sidelined, Mark Bower is set to renew his central-defensive partnership alongside David Wetherall and make his first start since Peterborough in December.

There are also one or two knocks to be considered and McCall may be tempted into changes after the way City were bossed by Stockport for much of the weekend's game.

Bower came off the bench in stoppage time for Moncur at the weekend for his first action since damaging a knee while warming up against Accrington on New Year's Day.

McCall added: "I was going to change it a bit earlier and put Bowser on just before Stockport got their second.

"I thought they would go 4-4-2 and put another man up top but they didn't and stuck to the same formation because it was making chances.

"We've got a couple of other problems before tonight as well as TJ, and a few have not trained as precautions."

City are likely to revert to 4-4-2 with Willy Topp and Barry Conlon vying for the striking role alongside Peter Thorne.

Chester, like next weekend's visitors Mansfield, are currently under temporary charge. Youth-team coach Simon Davies has been handed the reins until the end of the season after Bobby Williamson was axed last week.

McCall warned that teams with caretaker managers often made unpredictable opposition.

"We saw that at Bury when Chris Brass was in charge for a while. You've got someone in who might have a sniff of getting the job and so they try a few new things to shake it up."

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