The Poppies head into the clash boasting one of only two unbeaten records in the Blue Square Premier following a fine 2-0 win at Cambridge United on Monday, which came on the back of four successive draws.

The Cards, on the other hand, have struggled in the early stages and picked up their first point of the campaign with a 0-0 draw at Oxford United in their last outing.

Those statistics make the Poppies favourites for tomorrow's game but with some strange results being produced in the division Cooper is hopeful his players can continue their encouraging start.

"We are looking forward to it and it's a different pressure for us now," he said.

"Everyone is looking at this game and thinking we should win. So, from being in games where we were not expected to win, we are now in a different situation.

"But that's how football works and you have to deal with the shifts in pressure. It's something we will be working on.

"The lads who were here last season know about this sort of situation. We had a little break from it and it has been nice to be the underdog.

"But it's a compliment to the players and how well they have done so far that now we are expected to win a game again.

"You look at Woking's result at Oxford, our result at Cambridge and then Salisbury winning at Torquay and it just shows you how open it is at the moment.

"Anyone can beat anyone and we have to make sure we don't find ourselves slipping up this weekend after such a good performance. We will have to be professional and make sure we get the job done."

Cooper is looking for his players to produce the same attitude that saw them complete a four-point haul against Rushden & Diamonds and Cambridge last weekend.

He added: You always have to start by winning the battle.

"If you have eight or nine winning their personal battles, then
generally speaking you will win the game. That's how we play and we must continue to be like that."


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