Workington Town head coach Chris Thorman has challenged his Town players to up their game when they face Newcastle Thunder in League 1 this weekend.

Thorman was not happy with Town’s 26-16 defeat at home to Oldham last weekend and wants to see a different display from his players when they travel to Kingston Park on Sunday (3pm kick-off) looking to get their push for the play-off places back on track.

He said: “I’m expecting a dramatically improved performance from the Oldham game.

“I said last week that for whatever reason I thought we were a bit lethargic and our preparation wasn’t as good as it had been.

“Before the game I said ‘I think we’re going to get beat today’ and challenged the players.

“But as poorly as we played, we still put ourselves in a position where we could have beaten a good Oldham side.

“We need to focus on what we need to improve.”

Thunder started the season with back-to-back defeats but since then have lost just twice in the league.

They have won their last three games in the division, including an impressive victory against league leaders Whitehaven, and Thorman, who is from Wallsend, believes his hometown side will pose a different threat to the Roughyeds.

“It’s going to be another challenge away on an artificial pitch,” he added.

“They are probably the form team in the competition at the moment.

“They haven’t been blowing teams away but they’ve been finding a way to win.

“Newcastle like to throw the ball around a bit more than Oldham did.

“They’re a slightly different proposition.”

Thorman has been boosted in his preparations for Sunday’s game by the news that half-back Oliver Russell and second-rower Sam Hewitt are set to come into the 19-man squad on dual registration from Huddersfield and Danny Tickle will also be back in the squad but faces a fitness test.

“Danny is a significant contributor in our yardage,” he said.

“I’ve known Danny for a long time and he’s talking like he’s going to play.”

Carl Forber will not be fit enough to make the trip but Thorman was hopeful that he could return for next weekend’s game at North Wales Crusaders.

n This week’s Town Flyer £100 lottery winners: Mr Atkins, Cockermouth, E9877; Miss L Graham, Whitehaven, D2574; Mr A Newton, Workington, C7960; Mrs Grace, Maryport, B3570; Mrs M Gilpin, Arlecdon, A3747.