Cheltenham boss Allen plays the percentages

Cheltenham Town boss Martin Allen believes that his players just need to find an "extra 10 per cent" to start turning the corner in their continuing relegation battle.

Allen has watched his side fritter away a potential five points after conceding leads in the dying stages of their last two outings to leave them five points adrift of safety in the bottom four of League One.

The manager, however, insists that recent performances suggest his side are "very close" to reversing their recent worrying run of results.

Allen said: "We are very close because we are not getting battered every week. If we were getting outclassed and seriously beaten every week we would be struggling.

"There have been a number of positives to come out of the last few performances and we can take heart from them. We are close to getting it right but there is room for a 10 per cent improvement – the results will come when we find that."

Cheltenham go in search of their first league victory at the fifth-attempt against promotion-chasing MK Dons at Whaddon Road tomorrow.

Defender Drissa Diallo (knee) has failed in a bid to be fit to face his old club and is expected to return to training next week.

Allen is expected to include transfer-listed strikers Damian Spencer and Paul Connor in the matchday squad after the pair both scored and impressed in the reserve team victory over Yeovil on Wednesday.

"That both players are on the transfer list is irrelevant to me," said Allen.

"Some of those decisions are made because of finance and that is something beyond my control. If they are under contract to this club and do well in training or the reserves, they will play."

On-loan defender Chris Westwood, meanwhile, looks set to return to Peterborough when his temporary stay comes to an end after tomorrow's game.

"It looks unlikely we will keep Chris because I am not sure that we can afford his wages," Allen said.

The manager also confirmed that there are unlikely to be any new arrivals before the transfer window closes on Monday.

Meanwhile, Allen has confirmed that John Brough will remain his assistant until the end of the season after Bob Bloomer's departure was confirmed on Monday.