all set for the big one

The FA Trophy clash at home to Newport County has been in the backs of everyone’s minds for weeks, but now it has come to the forefront, according to joint leading scorer Jamie Jackson.

Hitman Jackson told the Guardian the squad are buzzing about the fixture, and the possibility of another upset against a Conference Premier side.

Speaking ahead of the second round tie at Sandy Lane on Saturday, the fan favourite said: “We’ve had it in the back of our minds but we had other games to concentrate on, but now it’s all about Newport.”

“We’ve a few games to go before Wembley,” he quipped. “We’re just taking it one game at a time but it’s on everyone’s lips now, I’ve been getting texts about it and we were all talking about it after the game on Tuesday.”

“Everyone is looking forward to it.”

Jackson spearheaded the attack in the previous round, playing up front on his own when Tigers ousted another Conference side, Tamworth, in a surprise 1-0 win.

He’s predicting similar counter attacking tactics this weekend, but doesn’t expect Newport to do all the pressing.

“I would think it will be like the Tamworth game, they’re a similar sort of opponent but the gaffer decides how we play and he hasn’t got it wrong up to now in my eyes. We scored three goals against Tamworth, in my opinion anyway, the two I had disallowed should have counted – certainly the second one.”

The man who signed for Tigers during their exile in 2010 is in fine goalscoring form this season, and his tally of 13 leaves him just three shy of the total he scored last season.

While his headline-grabbing performances are likely to attract attention from clubs higher up the football ladder, he’s content at Sandy Lane right now.

“I’m loving it,” he said.

“The ground, the set-up, everything is good and I’m really happy with how it’s going.”

Read more from Jackson and boss Simon Clark on pages 78 & 79