Pressure is all on Hednesford, claims AFC Telford boss
AFC Telford United manager Liam Watson today warned Hednesford Town "the pressure is all on you" as the promotion-chasers prepare to lock horns on Boxing Day.
The third-placed Bucks take on the Skrill Conference North league leaders at Keys Park, with leeway at the top and local bragging rights the motive for both teams.
Watson insists revenge on the hosts for September's FA Cup exit at the hands of the Pitmen is not spurring his players on, more the push for promotion as it gathers pace.
He is close friends with opposing manager and former Telford boss Rob Smith, but all that will be forgotten.
Watson is urging the travelling supporters to make themselves heard, like the Hednesford fans did in the Cup game, and crank up the pressure on the home side.
He said: "Our fans need to go to Hednesford and get behind us like their supporters did in the FA Cup.
"It's not about revenge, Rob will always have my respect and he and Larry Chambers are doing a great job.
"They are a good side who will be there or thereabouts at the end of the season. We just need to kick on and make sure we are strong.
"We have got to make sure we don't make too big a thing of the game, it's just another three points. Perhaps the FA Cup game was too built up, in that respect, so the pressure is all on them now."
Festive spirits are high in the Bucks camp after Saturday's 2-1 victory at home to Brackley Town, which lifted Telford into third.
After the trip to Hednesford, the Bucks entertain Boston on December 28 before the return game at home to Hednesford on New Year's Day.
