BRIDPORT boss Adam Fricker is eager to avoid taking Longwell Green Sports lightly when the Bees travel to the outskirts of Bristol in the Toolstation Western League Premier Division tomorrow (7.30pm).

Longwell Green have failed to win a single league game this season, taking just one point from 14 games, and have a goal difference of minus 47.

Fricker is keen to prevent a potential slip-up by aiming to replicate the performance that saw them dump holders Weymouth out of the Dorset Senior Cup in midweek.

He said: “For me it’s complacency and taking it for granted – that is the biggest thing for us.

“They haven’t won a game this season but it doesn’t mean that they are not going to be a good side, they’re not getting thrashed.

“We just have to approach it as we did Weymouth on Wednesday night and take the game to them.”

Bees’ manager Fricker also believed an early goal could prove crucial in breaking Sports’ spirit.

“I think that makes a massive difference. When teams are struggling if they can get themselves on top that gives them a confidence boost. When you concede an early goal it’s like ‘here we go again’.

“We’ll be very attacking and we’ll look to take it to them. For us it’s about controlling the game and dictating what happens,” he said.

Last season Sports fielded two much-changed sides against Bridport home and away, and Fricker is wary of a similar situation occurring.

He said: “We beat them last season at their place.

“But at ours they had a completely different team to the team that played us a few months before.

“The only thing you have to look at with Bristol-based sides is the catchment area is very big.

“It wouldn’t surprise me if they had a couple of players who don’t normally play for them.”

Fricker’s men have endured a tough run of fixtures away from home and are without a win in four trips, but the Bees’ boss is not worried.

He said: “We had two very tough away games in Melksham and Buckland.

“It’s certainly not anything that concerns us.

“We have had some very good victories away from home and our form is good.”

Bridport are only missing the suspended Leigh Bailey for the clash, with Tom Richardson available and Louis Rutter in line to start.

“Leigh’s not available on Tuesday night because he’s a firefighter. The fact that he’s suspended on a game he couldn’t have played anyway is a bonus for us.

“Louis, we’ll probably look to get him in the starting XI and see how he fairs,” Fricker said.

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