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Ben Amos is seeking an FA Cup escape route from reality at Eastleigh this weekend.
Rather than worry about slipping on a proverbial banana skin at the non-league Hampshire club the Wanderers keeper is hoping for some respite from the daily grind of the Championship.
Wanderers have had little to smile about in the midst of a financial crisis and are anchored to the foot of the division, four points from safety.
But the FA Cup offers Amos and his team-mates a different kind of test and the former Manchester United man is hoping it can have a positive effect on the club’s league form.
“It won’t be easy because these games never are but I think if we go at it with the right intensity then it can give us some momentum,” he told The Bolton News.
“We know our problems have stemmed from inconsistency. After the result against Huddersfield we have to put ourselves back on track regardless of what team we’re up against.
“We have to be on our game because it will be tough. They will be up for it, the crowd will be up for it.
“Eastleigh are an unknown quantity and we’ll have to play well to come away with a result but if we do, then we need to use it.”
Amos was disappointed the derby win against Blackburn did not signal a change in fortune for the Whites, who surrendered meekly to Huddersfield on Saturday to undo the progress they had made.
“We’re fluctuating too much in our performances,” he said. “It’s no good being great one week and then losing your way completely the next.
“We had high hopes after Blackburn. When that late shot bounced off the post and back into my hands I thought a corner had been turned. It hasn’t panned out that way.
“But what do you do? You can’t sit around and mope. You have to move on to the next game and try to do something about it.”
Form away from the Macron Stadium has been woeful for the majority of Neil Lennon’s 14-month tenure, and Wanderers are currently on the joint worst winless streak away from home of all Europe’s top two divisions.
According to statistics from WhoScored.com, Romanian side ACS Poli Timosara are the only other team on the continent to fail to win any of their last 12 games on the road.
But ex-Nottingham Forest full-back Dan Harding is reading nothing into Wanderers’ woes off the field ahead of facing them on Saturday.
Eastleigh are in form but the experienced defender knows Saturday’s game will be a considerable step up in class for the Spitfires.
“We’re on a good run since the gaffer’s come in, just a couple of losses in the last 12 to 14 games, so we really want this game to come,” he said.
“Just because they haven’t been paid for a couple of weeks doesn’t mean they’re less of a player, they’ve still got more talent and technical ability than we’re used to playing against,” said Harding.
“They’re obviously having a tough time in league and this might be an escape for them.”
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Rather than worry about slipping on a proverbial banana skin at the non-league Hampshire club the Wanderers keeper is hoping for some respite from the daily grind of the Championship.
Wanderers have had little to smile about in the midst of a financial crisis and are anchored to the foot of the division, four points from safety.
But the FA Cup offers Amos and his team-mates a different kind of test and the former Manchester United man is hoping it can have a positive effect on the club’s league form.
“It won’t be easy because these games never are but I think if we go at it with the right intensity then it can give us some momentum,” he told The Bolton News.
“We know our problems have stemmed from inconsistency. After the result against Huddersfield we have to put ourselves back on track regardless of what team we’re up against.
“We have to be on our game because it will be tough. They will be up for it, the crowd will be up for it.
“Eastleigh are an unknown quantity and we’ll have to play well to come away with a result but if we do, then we need to use it.”
Amos was disappointed the derby win against Blackburn did not signal a change in fortune for the Whites, who surrendered meekly to Huddersfield on Saturday to undo the progress they had made.
“We’re fluctuating too much in our performances,” he said. “It’s no good being great one week and then losing your way completely the next.
“We had high hopes after Blackburn. When that late shot bounced off the post and back into my hands I thought a corner had been turned. It hasn’t panned out that way.
“But what do you do? You can’t sit around and mope. You have to move on to the next game and try to do something about it.”
Form away from the Macron Stadium has been woeful for the majority of Neil Lennon’s 14-month tenure, and Wanderers are currently on the joint worst winless streak away from home of all Europe’s top two divisions.
According to statistics from WhoScored.com, Romanian side ACS Poli Timosara are the only other team on the continent to fail to win any of their last 12 games on the road.
But ex-Nottingham Forest full-back Dan Harding is reading nothing into Wanderers’ woes off the field ahead of facing them on Saturday.
Eastleigh are in form but the experienced defender knows Saturday’s game will be a considerable step up in class for the Spitfires.
“We’re on a good run since the gaffer’s come in, just a couple of losses in the last 12 to 14 games, so we really want this game to come,” he said.
“Just because they haven’t been paid for a couple of weeks doesn’t mean they’re less of a player, they’ve still got more talent and technical ability than we’re used to playing against,” said Harding.
“They’re obviously having a tough time in league and this might be an escape for them.”
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