FEW would have put Macclesfield Town as promotion contenders but Brian Horton's side have staggered everyone by their climb up the table, currently now in third automatic promotion place on goal difference.

They held Rovers to a goalless draw at the Memorial Stadium in December and Ian Atkins's side look like having their work cut out just to get a point at Moss Rose tomorrow.

Certainly they will have to be combative over 90 minutes which they were not in Tuesday's 1-1 draw at Kidderminister. Atkins labelled the first half performance as "totally abysmal" and his side were lucky to be only one behind to a side fighting to stay in the Football League.

Rovers dominated much of the second spell and Junior Agogo levelled after 53 minutes, also struck the side netting when through and powered a blaster against an upright from 25 yards. Rovers denied what Atkins called a clear-cut penalty in stoppage time after sub Lewis Haldane had gone down and new home boss Stewart Watkiss also reckoned it was.

But a good second 45 was not good enough for Atkins who in his most candid post-match appraisal revealed: "I've already got players lined up to bring in . . . and I'm formulating a list of the players I don't want who are no good to this football club."

Atkins switched from a back three to 4-4-2 after going behind, with John Anderson the man to lose out, and he said the player would be reprimanded and disciplined for his reaction.

He added: "I've got rid of some players already that are not good to the club or the dressing room. They think the game owes them a living . . . they owe the game a living."

He insisted he had not given up on the play-offs but he is also desperate to reach the LDV Trophy national final, though any newcomers are unlikely to be available for the March 8 southern second leg at Southend as they are either cup-tied or are in first teams.

Rovers had 26 attempts at goal and 14 corners in Saturday's 1-1 home draw against play-off chasing Boston United and frankly should have done better, even though two-thirds of them were off-target. No wonder Atkins could merely lament: "We didn't take our chances. . . We keep kicking ourselves in the teeth."

There was little to enthuse over in a pretty dreadful first half as far was entertainment was concerned, with United scorning even an unguarded goal but Steven Boyack rounded off a slick three-man move which had Rovers torn asunder on the hour.

Richard Walker and Ryan Williams then set up Junior Agogo for a crisp finish after 73 minutes but otherwise it was a case of what should have been, with Andy Kirk rounding 'keeper Ryan Clarke and blazing wide and Domonic Roma powering a header from a Jamie Forrester cross unintentionally straight into Nathan Abbey's arms.