Maidstone United manager Jay Saunders steering clear of FA Cup replay talk
Published: 00:00, 11 November 2016
Maidstone manager Jay Saunders says he hasn’t given the FA Cup replay at Rochdale a thought.
United travel to League 1 Dale on Tuesday night with the winners away to Carlisle in round two.
But, for now, Saunders is more interested in a tricky National League game at Southport on Saturday.
The improving Merseysiders have climbed out of the bottom four under new boss Steve Burr, while 16th-placed Stones travel without suspended trio Kevin Lokko, Tom Mills and James Rogers.
Stones boss Saunders said: “I haven’t given the Rochdale game a thought. We’ve not spoken about it, apart from travel arrangements and I don’t think we will until after Southport.
“That’s my main focus now. We want to open up as big a gap as we can from the bottom four.
“Southport are just outside it but they’ve been on a good run.
“It’s typical. I watched them before Steve Burr went in and they were struggling but he’s made seven or eight signings and from what I’ve seen recently, they’re looking a good side again and I’m sure they’ll be OK this season.
"They’re still in the FA Cup themselves but they won’t be giving it a thought and nor will we.”
Bradley Hudson-Odoi could make his debut after joining on loan from Sutton last night.
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Craig Tucker