Boreham Wood have “nothing to lose” when they visit Vitality Stadium this weekend in the fourth round of the FA Cup according to Cherries boss Scott Parker.
Boreham Wood have “nothing to lose” when they visit Vitality Stadium this weekend in the fourth round of the FA Cup according to Cherries boss Scott Parker.
The Hertfordshire-based club have been in brilliant form this season and sit fifth in the National League just two points off top placed Stockport and are looking for promotion into the Football League for the first time in the club’s history. .
When asked by journalists about Boreham’s league form this season, Parker said: “You are right in saying that Boreham Wood have done a fantastic job this year.
“They are two games in hand and if they go and win them both, with the way they have gone this season suggests they will, they will go top of the league.
“They have one of the best defensive records in the division and are unbeaten in 14 if I am right in saying.
“As always they have nothing to lose here at the weekend but everything to gain.”
The National League side, who are 70 places below their Championship counterparts, will be looking to take one of the biggest scalps of the fourth round and Parker knows how important avoiding any complacency among his own promotion seeking squad will be.
“Look, that is the biggest job for me this weekend, getting that balance right and the players understanding that any complacency, any expectancy of what this game may look like is not a way to go and get a result and win it.”
Boreham have already defeated league opposition in the form of AFC WImbledon in the third round and Parker understands that even though his side will have a superior technical quality, that alone will not guarantee the Dorset club’s success on Sunday.
He added: “We have seen in the course of years and experiences that upsets in the cup happen and they happen for exactly what you are talking about.
“Is the difference in quality there, of course it is ,but that is not what gets you through or wins you football matches.
“My team and my players will be under no illusions of what we will have to bring to this game at the weekend and under no surprises our quality will prevail but will prevail first and foremost of an understanding of what we have to bring.”