Southend United chief Rob Newman has warned his players to beware of an FA Cup backlash at Cheltenham Town.

The Robins ended the Third Division's interest in this season's competition at the weekend, bravely bowing out 1-0 at First Division high-flyers West Brom in the fifth round.

But Newman said the Whaddon Road outfit would be desperate to focus their attentions back on winning promotion this evening.

"Cheltenham will want to get back on track straight away at our expense," explained the Southend boss.

"And we will need to be well organised from the start if we want to pick up any reward.

"Cheltenham put on a superb display at West Brom on Saturday and I doubt they will be suffering from any cup hangovers.

"They've got games in hand and will be looking to nudge themselves back into the play-off zone with a win against us.

"But we need to go there and show some discipline at the back. We gifted Swansea all of their goals in our 3-2 defeat on Friday night and if we do the same this evening we will get our backsides slapped.

"On a positive note, if we begin this game as strongly as we finished off at the Vetch Field we shouldn't have any problems.

"We created a lot of chances in the second-half and should have scored more goals."

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Published Tuesday, February 19, 2002