MARK Yates will this week step up his chase for two loan players to strengthen Cheltenham Town's promotion hopes.
Nottingham Forest youngster Jamaal Lascelles is believed to be his first choice for loan cover at centre-half, with Swindon's Paul Benson thought to be his top attacking target.
Benson was due to make his final appearance for League One Portsmouth on Saturday, but their home match with Notts County fell victim to the wet weather.
Yates left out skipper Alan Bennett in favour of Keith Lowe at centre-back alongside Steve Elliott for Saturday's 1-1 draw with York City, saying the amount of goals Cheltenham have been conceding meant something had to change.
"Keith needed it and I think the defence needed Keith alongside Stevie," he said.
"Steve and Benno have not had the best of times recently and I don't think the two of them can expect to play 45-50 games this season.
"I was always going to bring something in and I am still trying to do that, but Benno can have a breather, get back on the training ground and work hard.
"I am not afraid to make decisions that might not be the most popular."
Yates declared himself happy with the middle of his team, but he has demanded more players press their claims for regular starting places in other areas.
"I need people at the top end of the team, the back and out wide to nail places down," he said.
"The centre midfielders are doing their jobs, with Russ Penn superb for the last six weeks and Marlon Pack is looking a much better player now, invigorated with more drive about him.
"If we get another striker and I can get my wide players in the game more it will help. We are not quite firing on all cylinders, but we are up there fighting.
"We have targets, but I am still waiting on the right time and the right answers."
Yates believes the draw with York could prove to be a point gained come the end of the season, despite them dropping to fifth place on Saturday.
He felt his team deserved maximum points at the Abbey Business Stadium after taking the lead through Shaun Harrad.
But Jason Walker levelled for the Minstermen in the 84th minute as Cheltenham failed to deal with a set piece.
"We didn't deserve that because they had one shot in the second half when we didn't mark properly and it's disappointing," he said.
"We dominated the second half, but it was never going to be easy in the conditions and after the Everton game on Monday night.
"Come the end of the season, looking at other results over the weekend, it could be a point gained, so we need to hang in there, keep picking up points and see where it gets us."
Cheltenham travel to Morecambe on Friday night, while the youth team play Bristol Rovers this afternoon in the League Cup (2pm).
