JOHN Coventry says his East Thurrock United team will take to the pitch against Concord Rangers today with ‘a much improved attitude’.

The two met in the National League South just six days ago - only for the match to be abandoned shortly after half-time due to a floodlight failure.

It means Rocks and Concord still have to walk out three more times to face each other in the coming weeks - with an Essex Senior Cup quarter-final to come next week.

But East Thurrock will be without three key first-team players for this afternoon’s encounter.

“It is not ideal,” said the Rocks chief. “We are without three key players but I am not going to say who they are at this time.

“I said after the Boxing Day game that we weren’t very good and I certainly expect better today.

“We trained on Saturday and whatever 11 players take the pitch they will have a different attitude and it will look like more of an East Thurrock side. I am looking forward to it.

“We are very up and down in the league - a league we are happy to be in - and you have to expect to win and lose games you may not have expected to win and lose.”

Concord are 10 points below East Thurrock in the standings and boast a hugely impressive unbeaten record in recent times.

Adam Flanagan’s team has not lost since September 12 and will be determined not to start 2018 off on the wrong foot.

Rocks have been more inconsistent but have kept in touch with the division’s frontrunners in what is one of the closely fought leagues in the country.

But Coventry expects those teams with greater strength in depth to come to the fore in the months ahead.

“There are no standout teams in this league like years past but there are strong sides and the strength in depth will come through,” said Coventry.

“We can’t compete with that but we know we can put in a one-off performance that can beat anyone in this league or the league above.

“Concord will say the same. I spoke with Flanners (Flanagan) after the game the other day and we have the same problems.

“Concord are on a good run but they have drawn a lot and that can kill you. It is a great achievement and I would love to say we had gone that many games without losing but draws are not enough.

“We will both want the three points today.”