Dave Mehew wants Gloucester City players to have to fight for places

THE new broom that is sweeping through Gloucester City will not stop following Tuesday night's thumping 5-1 success against Bishop's Stortford, Tigers boss Dave Mehew has warned.

City welcome Blue Square Bet South club Eastleigh to Whaddon Road in the FA Cup third qualifying round on Sunday (3pm) with Mehew looking for a repeat of Tuesday's five-star performance.

After deciding to make changes to his squad, Mehew delighted in seeing three of his new faces – forward Mitch Harding, midfielder Jordan Goddard and defender Chris Holland – bag goals against Stortford.

And having admitted that he perhaps was too loyal to under-performing players in his squad, Mehew declared that it was a case of lesson learned.

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"As loyal as I have been to the players I have, I think a few of them have lost their hunger," Mehew said.

"Because of the budget we have, we can't really afford to have much of a squad but there was a line drawn after the defeat at Droylsden last week. Enough was enough.

"My front players have been average to say the least so far this season. I had my normal front two players unavailable on Tuesday, but we scored five goals. So what does that tell you?

"And Tuesday wasn't the end of it. I am thinking of bringing another player as I want to see players really have to fight for their places.

"There was a hunger in the two lads from Bristol Rovers (Harding and Goddard) that I hadn't seen and that's now the benchmark.

"I am not having any player turn up and think they will play that's not good enough.

"There are going to be players that are going to be going on some long bus journeys and not getting a game.

"But if that's what it takes to get their hunger back, then fine.

"I've learned a lot as a manager in the last week or two, and I am happy that I've been able to act on it."

Eastleigh have also undergone something of a change in approach since ex-Brighton striker Iain Baird was sacked as manager a month ago.

Former Northampton Town boss Richard Hill was installed as new boss of the Spitfires and results had improved prior to a 6-1 thrashing by Farnborough on Tuesday night.

But Eastleigh are rumoured to have one of the largest wage bills outside of the Football League and Mehew is happy to say that his side go in to the tie as huge underdogs.

"That result on Tuesday night has altered my thinking about what Eastleigh might do to be honest," Mehew said.

"Usually when a new manager comes in there is a reaction and then a blip. Well the blip came on Tuesday.

"We will have to improve again if we are to get something from the game as we are underdogs, but that suits us fine."

Loan pair Goddard and Harding have both been cleared to play in the Cup, while strikers Darren Edwards and Will Morford return to the squad after missing Tuesday's win.