SILSDEN manager Danny Forrest is excited to welcome new recruit Marko Basic to the club, as he hopes to freshen things up after three "unacceptable" performances.

After a solid start to life in the Northern Counties East League Premier Division, Silsden have hit a wall, losing their last three games, scoring none and conceding 11 in the process.

They will hope to bounce back in this week's Bradford district derby at home to Liversedge, with Forrest backing youngster Basic to play his part.

He said: "We had a great result (a 7-1 win) against Garforth Town and we were on a high, but maybe it led to some complacency from the players, as the last three games have been unacceptable.

"But we've been looking to bring in new faces and we've got a nice addition in Marko Basic. He's played for Campion before and we've got him from Ossett.

"We're excited to get him on board and hopefully we'll get another signing through in the coming days. We're looking to freshen things up this weekend, although some players will get another crack.

"We need to take our efforts in training into matchday and apply ourselves properly. We need to be more creative and brave in the final third.

"It's when we have the ball and lose it that we look most vulnerable as we struggle with the transition.

"Ultimately, if this run carries on, we'll have a lot to do to claw our way back up the table."

It will be a tough ask to get back on track against sixth-placed Sedge, who have won four out of six league games so far.

Bizarrely, the pair play each other in the reverse fixture next week too, but Forrest explained: ""Our original opponents are still in the FA Vase and we're both out so the league have decided to get the fixture in rather than have a pile up later in the season.

"We might have to adapt after the first game but we need to go about our business tomorrow as we need a home result.

"We're under no illusions that Sedge are strong. They've bought well and they're right up there. I fancy them to keep getting results too.

"It will be be two tough tests for us but we'll have to see how it works out when we go toe to toe."

Forrest himself is unlikely to feature in either of the Liversedge clashes. He limped off with an early injury in their last match, a 5-0 defeat to Yorkshire Amateur two weeks ago.

He admitted that while he had recovered from that niggle, he'd prefer to be directing proceedings from the sidelines anyway.

He said: "It was just a little hamstring strain, which is not unusual for me, as I've had them a lot in the latter part of my career.

"But I don't plan on playing much anyway. I'll still keep fit though, and if I can affect a game, if what's best for the team is me holding the ball up and making it stick, then I'll play."