PAUL Smith has told his Bromsgrove Sporting players they must continue to deliver as the Rouslers press their claims to win the Midland League Division One title race.

Smith admitted to being worried sick following their recent FA Vase semi-final exit at Cleethorpes.

He said: "I just didn't know how the players were going to respond and react to that defeat.

"But it's a testimony to their character and mental strength that we bounced straight back with a 3-0 win at Racing Club Warwick and then followed up with a 5-2 success against Coventry Copsewood at the weekend.

"It was a splendid reaction and the players just keep on surprising me.

"I've having to rotate the squad at the moment and leave two or three of them out each week. Of course those who are left out are disappointed as everyone is champing at the bit to play. But the players understand what I'm trying to do and buying into it."

Smith admitted they should have won by more goals at Warwick, he added: "We missed a penalty and their goalkeeper pulled off some fantastic saves. If we'd won by six or seven, nobody could have complained.

"Against Coventry Copsewood, we started in sloppy fashion and deserved to go a goal behind.

"It was the kick up the backside that we needed and the players knuckled down from that point. Again we could have won by much more.

"I accept we are favourites to win the league now. The title is ours to lose.

"We've got 10 games left and I think another 18 points will see us over the line.

"That's all I'm thinking about at the moment.

"People kept coming up to me in the bar after the Coventry Copsewood game to tell me Pershore Town had beaten title rivals Leicester Road.

"They got some pretty short shrift in response from me. I'm not looking at anybody else's results. I'm only concerned with what we're doing."

However Smith was quick to praise the supporters following a crowd close on 800 for the Coventry Copsewood game.

He claimed: "Normally I would have expected a gate around 500 so it looks as though we've kept hold of some supporters following the FA Vase run. We had a crowd of 786 which is unbelievable at this level "Two of the goals we scored were absolute pearlers, so I just hope the supporters will want to see more and stick with us."