Southport manager Liam Watson has talked up their FA Trophy clash with Curzon Ashton.
The Yellows manager has a track record of taking cup competitions seriously and has labelled the visit of the Nash as “massive”.
Adam Lakeland’s side were knocked out of the FA Cup in midweek as they were beaten on penalties by Cambridge United.
At the same time, Southport were battling with King’s Lynn Town where they had to settle for a point in a 1-1 draw.
Speaking to Off The Park, Watson said: “They’re still in extra time in the FA Cup so I’d like to think they’ll get through; A, because they’re a good club, good people, good manager, good lads play for them so I’d like to see them through.
“I hope they don’t get drunk for the next three days, hopefully we can turn up and do a job on them.
“It’s very strange [to have a home tie] but it’s a cup game, we want to win it and get through. The Darlington game, we were good, the referee killed us sending Michael Carberry off when he didn’t touch him, that’s buried.
“We’re on a good run, people are talking positive about us so we have to enjoy it.”
After Cam Mason suffered an injury in the warm-up against Farsley Celtic, he has been out of the squad with Tony McMillan taking his place.
The veteran shot-stopper has been between the sticks during Southport’s resurgence up the table. Since their 3-0 win over Farsley, McMillan has kept four clean sheets including three in three away matches against Kidderminster Harriers, Spennymoor and in the reverse fixture against the National League strugglers in the 4-0 win last weekend.
But Watson admitted there will be a change in goal on Saturday, he said: “Cam will play in goal on Saturday and we’ll see we’re up to.
‘Cam got injured and Tony’s come in, do you think he deserves to be left out? The answer is no, I’ve got to keep 25 people happy, the staff, the kit men, I don’t have to keep one, I have to keep them all happy,” he continued on the goalkeeping situation.
“If you come in, you’ve got to do your job, people will look and think we’ve got one of the best goalkeepers in the league then on the other hand, we’ve got a 40-year-old who’s probably been the most successful and best goalkeeper to play in this league for 20 years so what do I do?”
[Featured image: Julia Urwin – Southport FC]
