We must concentrate on the game and not get distracted by TV cameras - Roberts

BORO skipper Mark Roberts says he’s looking forward to a ‘cracking atmosphere’ when Stevenage take on AFC Wimbledon in the FA Cup on Saturday.

Roberts will lead his side out for the Second Round match in front of the live ITV1 cameras and there will be a large audience sat watching the game at home. However, Roberts says Boro will be looking to ignore all of the hype and concentrate on the game.

“Although it’s on TV I’m sure it’ll be a full house,” Roberts told The Comet. “Both home and away fans will fill it up and it’ll be a cracking atmosphere.

“Anytime you’re playing in the FA Cup it’s going to be a special game, with an extra edge for everyone involved.

“It’s a cup game, the winner takes all. It’s in front of the TV cameras and we’ll try to ignore that and just concentrate on the game.

“It’s a bit different with a full game shown live, but having gone up to the Football League we’re on TV on the highlights show each week so we’re used to be in front of the cameras.”

Boro go into the game on the back of conceding a late equaliser against Southend United on Tuesday evening and, despite beating AFC 3-0 at Kingsmeadow when the two sides last met in April, Roberts knows his side will have to be at their best to eliminate a team currently high on confidence.

“I myself made the mistake for the goal, which is never nice to do,” Roberts said. “But we don’t really concede late on in games, we’re normally the stronger team pushing for an equaliser or a winner.

“[AFC] are flying high at the moment and we know they’re a strong outfit. They’ve made a few changes from when we played them last year but we’ve had them watched a couple of times and it should be a good game.

“The TV cameras would have been there for a dream tie if MK Dons had been playing Wimbledon, but we spoiled that and deserved to go through after being the stronger team over two ties.

“We hope to go down there and win and book ourselves a place in the next round.”