STEVE Riley says it’s imperative AFC Totton “stop the rot” tomorrow at home to mid-table Mangotsfield.

The Jekyll & Hyde Stags have hit a dreadful run of form since bursting out of the new year traps with five straight Southern One South & West victories.

Since those heady January days, they have picked up just one of 24 available league points and go into tomorrow’s clash reeling from six straight defeats.

“We’ve got to dig in and stop the rot.

“Once we get another point on the board, the confidence will come back,” said Riley, whose side have plummeted from possible play-off contenders to 15th.

“What’s gone is gone and we move on. We’ve got seven games left and we’ve got to try and get a positive result tomorrow and see if we can finish the season with a bit of a flurry.”

Totton’s defending has let them down catastrophically. They have shipped 23 goals since their last victory against Wantage Town on January 24.

They were well positioned to grab a point at Swindon Supermarine last Saturday until two horrendous errors in the last five minutes sent them crashing 3-1.

“I apologise to the fans who travelled,” said Riley. “Our defending is not good enough at this level and it’s frustrating to have to keep going over old ground.

“We need to put it right.”

The Mangos are in a rich vein of form, having won three and drawn one of their last four.