THE New Saints boss Scott Ruscoe has called for his players to be more ruthless as the Welsh Premier League Champions battle with an unlikely mid-season crisis of confidence.

TNS were dumped out of the Nathaniel MG Cup by Welsh National League side Cambrian and Clyddach last week, the first time they have been beaten by lower league opposition since losing to Cefn Druids 24 years ago in the same competition.

That comes on the back of league defeats to Caernarfon, Aberystwyth and Cardiff Met in the past two months.

But Ruscoe will be looking to get back to winning ways - and settle the score with the Archers when they visit Park Hall this weekend.

"We’re working hard enough in training and the quality is there but I do feel there’s a little bit of nervousness around the players at times during games," he said.

"That always comes when the ‘normality’ of winning for TNS hasn’t been there. Everyone is human and that nervousness does get to certain players.

"You could see that the other night [against Cambrian and Clyddach]; we had all the possession early on and some excellent play but then we don’t score, that transfers to the other end where we defended a few set plays really well but they go and score one."

Cardiff Met have only won once in the league since their 4-1 demolition of TNS at Cencoed in September, against struggling Llanelli, but battled to a confidence boosting Nathaniel MG Cup semi-final victory over high-flying Connah's Quay last week.

And the TNS boss has called for more ruthlessness in front of goal as the Saints look to get back to winning ways.

"If we don’t be ruthless in both boxes, we’re going to come up short and that’s the overall verdict of why we’re struggling.

"Our overall play has been really good at times, but we’re a little bit lacklustre and lacking confidence in certain areas.”

Midfielder Ryan Brobbel said they would be looking to "right all of the wrongs" of the reverse fixture.

"They’re always well organised and move as a group,” he said.

"We’ll just get them back here [Park Hall] and hopefully we can right all of the wrongs of that 4-1 defeat."