Cup dreams on the back-burner for Rovers

FOREST Green boss Dave Hockaday has told his players to put cup dreams aside and re-focus on their league survival plight.

Tomorrow Rovers faces a Blue Square Premier clash with Stevenage Borough (3pm).

Tuesday night's 2-1 FA Cup triumph at Mansfield Town has restored a feel-good buzz to the New Lawn dressing room, and minds have inevitably drifted towards the second-round trip to Bath City and a possible shot at the big boys.

But with Graham Westley's Borough unbeaten in 14 league matches, and leaders Oxford United due to visit Nailsworth next Tuesday, Hockaday knows he must guard against distractions.

"We sat down as a group immediately after the game (on Tuesday), reflected on a great night and then turned our minds immediately to Stevenage," he said.

"That might sound tough but it's what being a professional footballer is all about, especially with games coming thick and fast.

"Stevenage are similar to Mansfield – a big, powerful team with match-winners.

"We'll need to be every bit as good as we were on Tuesday to pick up a positive result."

Hockaday caught the Stags on the hop with an unfamiliar 4-2-3-1 formation, which enabled David Brown to dictate play from a deep midfield role and star man Conal Platt to wreak havoc from the right flank.

Platt grabbed the headlines with both goals, his first a stunning free-kick just before half-time, and even the most ardent Mansfield supporters admitted afterwards that Rovers' football had been a class apart.

Hockaday was similarly impressed, but he feels his team can still improve significantly and should have nothing to fear from the likes of Stevenage or Oxford.

"I will pick teams and formations to suit particular occasions and I'm fortunate to have flexible players in the squad," he said.

"The frightening thing for other teams is that we'll only get better, as we are young and inexperienced and learning all the time.

"I honestly don't think anyone will fancy playing us at the moment."

Midfielder Craig Rocastle is eligible again for Rovers and could return to the starting line-up tomorrow, with Danny Powell the most likely to miss out.

●Striker Marcus Palmer has left Forest Green to join Zamaretto Premier Division club Evesham United.