Belief is key to causing FA Cup upset- Harborough boss Austin

Mitch Austin signed an 18-month contract extension as Harborough Town boss in January

Harborough Town manager Mitch Austin has emphasised the importance of belief to his squad ahead of his side's FA Cup first round tie at Tonbridge Angels on Saturday.

The Bees beat Bury 1-0 earlier this month to set up the tie and FA Cup fever has been building in Leicestershire ever since.

"Belief is an important thing in all aspects of life," Austin told BBC Radio Leicester.

Tonbridge are in the sixth tier of English football, one division above Town in the football pyramid, but that hasn't affected the visitors preparation to the match according to Austin.

"It's going to be very tough and, on their pitch, the odds are against us but it's the FA Cup, anything can happen.

"There is a fine line between belief and being a bit deluded so we’ve got to set the players up to see why we believe we can be successful."

Town have already made history by making the first round proper for the first time since the club was founded in 1975 but Austin remains quietly confident the club's FA Cup adventure will not end just yet.

"We've made history, but think about what the next one will feel like," he said.

Centre forward Tendai Daire has also set his sights on a potential upset.

"I think everyone’s going to naturally up their game because we all want to be in the starting 11 and one thing about this club, you’re not guaranteed to start, you have to work for it," he told BBC Radio Leicester.

“We know we have to push each other and we want the best team out there.

"But also, if you know that it's not your time to start, that's OK, because you're going to get the opportunity to come on and make a difference for the team and for the club."

Tendai Daire re-signed for Harborough Town from Leicester Road in December 2023

Daire re-signed for Town last December after being part of the squad which gained promotion to the Northern Premier League Midlands Division and says games like Saturday are why he returned to the club.

"To be on Match of the Day? I've been dreaming about that moment," he said.

"I'd love to chip in and obviously get my goal but we just can't wait to get on the pitch and embrace the moment."

Only Tonbridge stand in the way of Town's progress to the second round and, in captain Scott Wagstaff, the Angels have a midfielder with over 300 football league appearances.

"I think we've got to embrace it and enjoy the occasion," the former Charlton Athletic and Gillingham player told BBC Radio Kent.

"We know it's a big occasion for the club but we don't want to bring too much nerves for the boys - it's going to be a great crowd."