NEIL Thompson's side are looking for their first home win of the season against Morecambe tonight, which goes a long way to explaining why only goal difference keeps them out of the bottom three of the Nationwide Conference.

"The home record has not been good for a while and I think there is an element of fear with the players, but we are in a situation now where a win is absolutely vital for us" said Thompson.

It is thought that there are still financial problems affecting the players, who received their pay cheques 13 days late this month.

Thompson is still missing key players through suspension and injury and looks set to continue with the experiment of playing Aron Wilford in attack after his goal at Yeovil on Saturday.

Malton-based Wilford, on loan from Middlesbrough, is a centre back, but showed a good touch and an ability in the air which has been lacking at the McCain Stadium since the days of Ernie Moss.

Steve Brodie has a sore hamstring and faces a late fitness test, but Ashley Fickling, Chris Short, Jamie Barnwell and Ben Sherwood are all missing. Darryn Stamp serves the last game of his three-match ban.

Boro: Woods, Atkinson, Faure, Ingram, Rennison, Fitzsimmons, Pounder, Blunt, Stoker; Brodie, Wilford. Subs from: Newton, Burt, Maughan, Hogg, Keegan, Turley.

Updated: 12:03 Tuesday, September 18, 2001