Mindset must be right for Poppies' Trophy test

It looks set to be an extremely tricky test for the Poppies as they make the short trip to take on a Sports team who have made an encouraging start to life in the BetVictor Southern League Premier Central having won the Division One Central title last season.

For their part, the Poppies’ recent change of fortunes in the Vanarama National League North continued as they fought back from 3-0 and 4-2 down to earn a point against fellow strugglers Blyth Spartans in a dramatic 4-4 draw at Latimer Park last weekend.

Cox is yet to taste defeat since being appointed as Kettering manager.

But he believes the poor first-half performance against Blyth should be a big enough warning to his players that they must have the right attitude tomorrow.

“I think last weekend is a bit of a warning to the players ahead of this game at Peterborough,” the Poppies boss said.

“If you turn up for these games and you are not 100 per cent focused and you aren’t 100 per cent ready to match people’s desire and application then you will lose the game.

“They have already knocked Guiseley out of the FA Cup and they will class it as a local derby.

“I rate the FA Trophy really highly. It’s a wonderful competition, it’s one the supporters will get behind.

“But to do that we have got to go to places like Peterborough and look at it as a proper, big game for us.

“If we go there with any arrogance or delusions of grandeur then we will get exactly what we deserve, which is nothing. Our mindset will have to be right.”

Sports will have some familiar faces in their squad with former Kettering players Paul Malone, Josh Moreman and Avelino Vieira all set to be involved at the weekend.