Shropshire Star

AFC Telford boss Rob Edwards thrilled with support for FA Cup trip

AFC Telford United boss Rob Edwards has hailed the fans as only a handful of tickets remain for Saturday’s FA Cup trip to Hereford.

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More than 700 Bucks supporters will head to Edgar Street for the first-round clash.

“It is a great show of support and full credit to the fans for getting behind the players,” said Edwards.

“That is down to the players as well, who are giving the fans something to cheer about and support.

“The players have done that, they are trying to bring people back with their work rate, their endeavour, their football.

"It is great that there is going to be a good following going to Hereford.”

Telford have had to handle good away followings at the New Bucks Head in previous rounds of the competition.

Stafford Rangers had a noisy support in the third qualifying round replay and FC United of Manchester filled the Frank Nagington Stand in the last Cup fixture.

The Bucks won those games 4-1 and 3-1 respectively, but neither was straightforward.

Edwards hopes the Telford faithful can make it difficult for the Bulls to settle, and said: “That day (against FC United), it took us a little while to deal with that.

“It’ll probably be a bit noisier to what we are used to on Saturday and we have to handle that.

“If we do that, handle the occasion, then I am sure that we can come away with the win.”

Telford last made it to the proper rounds of the Cup in the 2014/15 season.

They travelled to Bristol City in the second round, losing 1-0, and 770 Bucks fans made the 220-mile round trip.

Edwards has some injury worries going into the Hereford game.

John Marsden (ankle) and Jack Rea (ankle) are both expected to miss out.

Skipper Shane Sutton may recover in time from a knee knock while midfielder Jordan Lussey is nursing a groin injury, which caused him to miss this past weekend’s 1-1 draw with Southport.

Louis McGrory was also limping with an apparent ankle injury after the Southport match.

On Lussey, who has scored in each of his last three games, Edwards added: “He felt his groin in training so wasn’t available for Saturday.

“We’ll have to see what happens this week.”