Sandy will turn to coaching contacts for Burton lowdown as Sutton clash is called off
Elliot Sandy admits it is not ideal that he and assistant Jim Le Masurier won't be able to watch opponents Burton Albion in the flesh ahead of their big FA Cup first round clash on November 7.
But he says Diamonds will be as well prepared as they possibly can be ahead of the showdown with the Sky Bet League One outfit.
The Brewers only have one competitive match to play ahead of their date with Diamonds, when they travel to Wycombe Wanderers in the league on Saturday.
Sandy and his coaching staff will be busy at Carlton Town for Rushden's Pitching-In Northern Premier League Midlands Division date, so they won't get the chance to watch Gary Bowyer's side in action before going head to head at the Pirelli Stadium.
Diamonds were also in action last weekend at the same time as Burton were winning 2-1 at home against Leyton Orient.
But Sandy says he will be leaning on his contacts in the coaching and management world to furnish him with the detail he needs, while a representative of the scouting staff will also be heading to Adams Park at the weekend.
"We are quite lucky in that we know a few managers and coaches of teams at that level to get some information on Burton," said the Diamonds boss.
"We will be able to send somebody to go along, but it just won't be ourselves, and sometimes it is nice to sort of see them play first hand.
"But we have games to play, they are coming thick and fast, and we wouldn't want that any other way."
Meanwhile, it has been confirmed that next Tuesday's scheduled Midlands Division encounter with Sutton Coldfield Town at Hayden Road has been postponed.
That will at least give Sandy and his players a clear week ahead of taking on Burton, with their hosts also without a game in the seven days leading up to the fixture.
A club statement read: "Our home match versus Sutton Coldfield originally scheduled for next Tuesday (Nov 3) has been postponed owing to our ongoing involvement in the FA Cup.
"Our thanks once again to the Northern Premier League and and Sutton Coldfield Town for their support.
"This fixture will now take place on Tuesday, December 15.
"The NFA Hillier Senior Cup quarter-final versus Whitworth originally scheduled for that date will now move to Tuesday, December 22."
The postponement of the date with Sutton Coldfield means that Diamonds now face a run of seven straight away games.
They last played at home on October 17 when they beat Morecambe in the FA Cup, and are now not due to run out at Hayden Park again until Tuesday, November 17.
Diamonds are in Midlands Division action on Tuesday night (Oct 27) when they travel to Loughborough Students.