BORO striker Chris Beardsley has said suffering defeat against Port Vale in Tuesday night s FA Cup First Round replay might be a blessing in disguise. Beardsley watched from the bench as his team were beaten 1-0 by Micky Adams men at the Lamex Stadium bu

BORO striker Chris Beardsley has said suffering defeat against Port Vale in Tuesday night's FA Cup First Round replay might be a blessing in disguise.

Beardsley watched from the bench as his team were beaten 1-0 by Micky Adams' men at the Lamex Stadium but said his team has now put that defeat to bed and are back concentrating on chasing down Oxford United at the top of the Blue Square Premier.

Speaking in the Boro Podcast this week about cup competitions, Beardsley said: "Squads are going to be stretched. Maybe going out of the FA Cup on Tuesday night might be a blessing in disguise.

"You never want to lose games but I've been at clubs where it does become a bit of a circus around the FA Cup. You know, it's gone now and there's nothing we can do about it except put it to bed and just concentrate on the league."

Next up for Boro is a league double header against two teams struggling at the foot of the Blue Square Premier.

They visit 21st-placed Forest Green Rovers on Saturday who, despite their lowly position have not lost in their last five games, and then host bottom team Chester City next Tuesday evening.

Speaking about Forest Green, Beardsley said: "In Conference football, on the day anyone can beat anyone.

"They have been doing well, they had a new manager come in since the start of the season and he seems to have turned it around.

"(They have) got a few new players in and going to Mansfield and winning 2-1 in the (FA) Cup you've got to be a decent side.

"We've got to go there and try to dominate them from the off and try to get a foothold in the game.