STEWART Drummond saw enough in Chester's first game under new management to feel upbeat going into tomorrow's relegation battle with Torquay United.

The Blues midfielder was at his combative best against the Mariners, who stole a 1-0 win with a first-half header from Chester-born striker Gary Jones.

It was City's 13th defeat in 15 games but Drummond said: 'You've got to keep positive. The gaffer's just come in there at the end of the game and said to everyone 'keep your heads up'.

'It was an improvement on the last couple of weeks and things will get better.'

Wright was appointed last Tuesday and immediately made improving the Blues' defensive re-cord his priority.

Drummond added: 'We looked a lot more solid at the back with the change in formation. We've not had much chance to work on things but we looked solid at the back. Maybe we didn't create quite as many chances as we have done in recent games but the gaffer's philosophy is to start from the back and stop the goals going in. We can take it from there.'

Drummond was a long-term transfer target of Wright's during the former England defender's first spell with the Blues and he joined from Morecambe in the summer of 2004.

Wright's controversial departure on the eve of the 2004-05 campaign meant the Preston-born midfielder had not played a competitive game under Wright until last Saturday.

Drummond quipped: 'Making your competitive debut for the manager who signed you 18 months later isn't really the way I thought it was going to pan out!'