Workington Reds boss Danny Grainger hopes to see his team get on the front foot against opponents Droylsden when they travel to Greater Manchester in the FA Trophy preliminary round tomorrow (3pm kick-off).

It was less than two years ago that Reds toppled National League side Hartlepool United in the competition and supporters will be hoping to see their team go on a run similar to the one they enjoyed in that memorable cup campaign.

Grainger believes his players need to show the same intensity and control on the road that they do at home if they are to do that.

“Last Saturday we came into the game but we gave ourselves a bit of a mountain to climb and we need to stop doing that,” he said.

“It’s dictating the game from the start, whether we’re home or away.

“I think when you look at our home performances we’re in control from minute one, and there’s no reason why we can’t be doing that away from home, especially at the moment when the pitches are as good as they are.

“We should be going to each ground, keeping hold of the ball, inviting teams onto us and then obviously breaking their press and getting the chances that we do at home.”

Injuries to Sam Smith and Brad Carroll were due to be assessed in training this week, with Grainger sounding more hopeful that the latter might feature this weekend.

“I think it’s going to be too early for Sam,” he said.

“We’ll see what reaction Brad has from training this week and we’ll make a decision from there.”

One player who looks to have forced his way into Grainger’s thoughts is Nathan Waterston, who bagged a Cumberland Cup hat-trick in the 7-0 win at home to Moor Row in midweek.

The forward found goals hard to come by in the early stages of the season but his manager admitted it will be hard to keep him out of the team if he continues his current scoring form, with seven goals making him the club’s top scorer this season so far.

“Obviously the lads that have been in and around the first team have given me a headache for Saturday,” Grainger said.

“There were some good goals. I think there was some good play by the lads.

“The young lads seem to be taking on board the way we’re wanting to do things at the club at the moment.

“I’m really happy with how things went.

“As I keep saying to him [Waterston], that’s what he has to do.

“He has to make sure that he’s scoring goals and that I can’t keep ignoring him.

“Him and Ash Kelly did great. I thought Robbie [Hebson] did really well and again Mitch [Alex Mitchell] – even though there were long periods of the game that he wasn’t involved, he made two vital saves.”