Town U18s Manager Alan McLoughlin has urged his players to not get complacent ahead of their FA Youth Cup Second Round tie against AFC Sudbury on Saturday.
The young Reds entertain their non-league counterparts at The County Ground tomorrow (1pm Kick-Off), with entry £3 for adults and £1 for concessions.
Town’s U18s know they will face QPR at home in the Third Round should they win tomorrow, but McLoughlin has warned his side against the perils of taking AFC Sudbury lightly.
“It is a big opportunity and most of the boys have played at The County Ground,” he told swindontownfc.co.uk.
“It is the Second Round, it is on a Saturday afternoon, it’s at The County Ground, the pitch is fantastic as we know and we’re playing a tough opposition in AFC Sudbury who have a fantastic record recently and thoroughly deserve to be here after all their games and victories.
“The players know they have to perform to their maximum and if they don’t they will come unstuck, so that is the challenge for them.
“We do go in as favourites and I expect us to be favourites so the pressure is on the players and I expect them to perform.
“This is what it’s about. If you want to become a professional footballer and if you want to play at The County Ground or elsewhere, you have to be able to go out and perform with control, with composure, be dynamic and play consistently well over 90 minutes not only as an individual but as a group to get through the tie.
“AFC Sudbury will absolutely love coming to The County Ground so we wish them well, but hopefully we will be able to produce a performance tomorrow that I know we’re capable of.
“I’m looking forward to the game and I’m sure the players are. It will be a proper matchday experience for them and I hope they enjoy it.
“I certainly remember my FA Youth Cup experiences as a kid at Manchester United, good and bad, I remember it like yesterday so I’m sure the boys will remember the day as long as it is a positive outcome.
“I’ve made it perfectly clear to the players that if they think they can just turn up at The County Ground and get the job done then they are sadly mistaken because AFC Sudbury will have some good players, some players who are looking to progress their career and the run they are on and the way in which they’ve got here is a credit to the football club itself.
“I’m keen for our boys to progress to the next round and play QPR in the next round.
“I’m looking forward to the game and hopefully we’ll get a few people in attendance.”
