Manager Tom Killick has certainly done his homework ahead of Poole’s FA Cup clash with old foes Chippenham, but is unconvinced that his research will have any bearing on the tie.
Whilst the Bluebirds are familiar faces to Killick, Poole’s boss went out of his way to run the rule over his next opponents – utilising his contacts to produce a scouting report.
Killick told All Poole Aren’t We: “I’m not going to name them, but there is a manager of a side that has already played them that I’ve got a good relationship with, and he has sent me quite a bit of information on them that he obtained, because financially they’re in a different place in terms of their scouting.
“We’ve managed through the back door to get quite a lot of information on them actually, probably more so than we might get against teams in our league.
“I don’t feel that we will lack knowledge of them, it’s the old story – it’s all very well knowing what a team’s strengths, but they’re in a league above, they’re a very powerful team, it’s one thing knowing about it, it’s another to actually overcome the things we know we are up against.
“I don’t think we will be surprised with what they bring, because we will have information, we just have to make sure we’re good enough that we try and overcome it – that’s going to be the difficult bit.”
Defeat at this stage of the competition to Chippenham last year will remain fresh in the memory for Poole fans. Poole battled back from 2-0 down to take the tie to penalties at Hardenhuish Park, but ultimately the National South side prevailed.
Will Spetch’s suspension does not begin until the 25th of September.
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