PAUL Smith has warned there must be no repeat of last year’s loss at Southam as in-form Bromsgrove Sporting rose to the top of Midlands Division One.

The Rouslers top the table for the first time in the club’s history after beating Bolehall Swifts 4-1, while leaders Coventry United saw their match against Pilkington XXX called off.

Sporting have played three games more than United, who have dropped just three points all season, and Smith knows they cannot afford any slip-ups.

The manager still remembers last season’s 2-1 defeat to Southam in March, a result which ultimately cost them the league title and promotion as they finished three points behind leaders Highgate United.

Bromsgrove go to relegation battling Southam on Saturday (3pm ko), before a trip to Littleton next Wednesday in the Worcestershire Senior Urn semi-finals (7.45pm ko).

He said: “I have been telling the lads that the only thing that will beat them is complacency.

“Last season, we turned up at Southam in a mid week game straight after a big win over Highgate assuming we would win and lost 2-1.

“That won’t happen again this year, the players know they have to approach games in the right way.

“I was a bit disappointed with the performance against Bolehall but we won the game.”

He added: “Apparently we’re top of Division One for the first time ever and the club and fans should take pride in that.

“But it’s only January and we’ve done nothing yet.

“When we lost to Coventry in November I know people were writing us off but we’ve won eight league games in a row to make sure we’re back in it.”

With a fully fit squad, Smith has been rotating his players as much as possible to give them all game time and keep them fresh for the run in.

“We’ve no injury worries and everybody is fit but I am trying to change things around.

“Nathan Walker missed out completely and Kyle Turner started on the bench before coming on and neither player had done anything wrong.”