Pressure test for Spitfires

By Wendy Gee -

EASTLEIGH boss Ian Baird says his players have put pressure on themselves for tomorrow's FA Cup third qualifying round tie at Clevedon Town.

Last Saturday's uninspired 1-0 league defeat at home to Hampshire rivals Basingstoke means the Spitfires travel to Somerset with a point to prove.

After a decent start to the Blue Square Bet South campaign, Eastleigh lost their way against Basingstoke and were unable to respond after falling behind to a tenth-minute set-piece.

On paper tomorrow's opponents, currently third to bottom of the Zamaretto South & West, should not pose a problem for Eastleigh's Conference thoroughbreds, but Baird admitted: "We need to play better than we did last week, that's for sure.

"If we'd won last Saturday, we wouldn't have built up pressure on ourselves like we have.

"The club knows and I know what's expected of us tomorrow and the players have got to live with a certain amount of responsibility, as we all have.

"We've got to make sure we don't concede a sloppy goal like we did last week and give the opposition a leg-up.

"Basingstoke came with a game-plan which we fell right into and we didn't have enough quality in the final third to get out of it."

The Spitfires are looking to better or match last year's achievement of reaching the first round proper for the first time in their history.

There is £7,500 at stake tomorrow and, with the prize fund rising to £12,500 in the next round, victory is not just a matter of pride for Eastleigh - it's a financial necessity.

"In this day and age I think there's pressure on every manager to have a cup run because of the financial rewards," said Baird.

"We had Clevedon watched last Saturday and (head coach) Matt Gray saw them beaten 3-2 (by North Leigh) on Tuesday after they'd been 2-0 up, so we've got a good understanding of what they're like.

"Matt said they're a decent side and their league position is not what it should be. As always, we'll treat them with respect."

Midfielder Danny Smith is available again after sitting out the Basingstoke game suspended, but Richard Gillespie (groin) took a knock in training and both Luke Byles and Will Hendry are laid low with a virus.

Left-back Byles rang in ill before the Basingstoke game, while midfield play-maker Hendry was sick at training on Tuesday.

"Neither of them can keep in any food in, so they're big doubts," said Baird.

Loan winger Tony Taggart has been given the thumbs up to play by his parent club Newport County. The man he has replaced, Shaun McAuley, is back in non-contact training following a hair-line fracture of the ankle/tibia, but is another month away from playing.

Mickey Bell, manager of Clevedon, expects a tough tie tomorrow.

"We've been lucky to get a home draw, but a bit unlucky with the opposition," he said.

"We are really big under-dogs but there's no pressure. The players can go out and express themselves."