Rob Smith: AFC Telford can break away duck
Manager Rob Smith believes AFC Telford United have the resilience to spoil FC United of Manchester's FA Cup fever and get off the mark on their travels tonight.
The Bucks make their first trip to United's first purpose-built home – Broadhurst Park in Moston – aiming for their first away points of the season.
They have lost all six National League North trips this term, but are currently on a three-match unbeaten run after a win and two draws on home soil.
FC United host League One Chesterfield in the FA Cup first round proper on Saturday, but have lost five in a row in the league.
Smith said: "In my experience, they've always been a really good team and to add to that we haven't got a point away from home and we're really imposing that on the players.
"We've got to start being more resilient away from home. It's a massive thing, away form – I always get on the bus expecting to come home with something.
"We haven't got that at the moment – but we've got to start getting it and I think we've got the character to cope with a big crowd now.
"We've got that belief to think we can get a result and we'll be looking to win every game.
"We feel as though we've dropped four points in the last two games because we were comfortable against Boston and on Saturday against Alfreton, but referees' decisions went against us."
In contrast to their Cup run, United are on a miserable sequence in the league, but Smith is expecting anything but an easy ride.
He said: "The flip side of that is there will be 4,000-plus fans all with cup fever and they will be looking to put on a show."
Left-sided player Sean Clancy is available, as his suspension from his weekend red card against Alfreton doesn't kick in until a week on Saturday.
