'GET behind us' is Steve Claridge’s plea to the city as Salisbury FC prepare for Saturday’s massive showdown at Nuneaton Griff in the fifth round of the FA Vase (3pm).

The Whites boss is hoping hordes of fans will join the squad, who are going up overnight, in the 274-mile round trip to The Pingles Stadium for the crunch clash.

The Sydenhams Wessex Premier leaders have had a comfortable run in the competition so far, breezing past the opening two preliminary rounds and the first four proper rounds, with the latest victory coming at AFC Dunstable.

More than 350 supporters made the trip to Creasey Park and Claridge is hoping they can surpass that number in Warwickshire as Whites bid to reach the quarter-finals.

“Our away support is great; every away game we go to feels like a home game,” he said.

"I don’t see anyone at Dunstable who’s not wanting to go to Nuneaton. It’s not that much further – another 24 miles.

“It’s a bit further than you are used to travelling but if you were in Conference South or Conference Premier you’d be used to those sort of distances, and more, every other week.

"We’re looking forward to it. I think we’re alright.

"Get behind us.

“We want to keep it going and make this a really special three months."

“There was a decent crowd on Saturday and I was hoping we might break 1,000, but we didn’t.

“The people who come every week, we cannot thank you enough.”

“We are getting stronger and better and we’ll keep trying to improve."

Nuneaton, who play at step six – one below Claridge’s men – knocked out a team from tier five in the previous round.

The Heartlanders, from Midland Football League Division 1, are unbeaten in the last five games and aiming for promotion.

But Claridge told JournalSport: “I had a lad up there on Saturday, who is from the area, who just popped up to have a look.

"We’re not going to change how we play.

“We’re what we are. We can change during the game but I think everybody knows how we are going to approach the game.”

“I’d never disrespect the opposition, I’m not worried about the opposition. All I’m worried about is us, and that’s it.

“I’ll take defeat, but with us doing it the right way. We are getting stronger and better and we’ll keep trying to improve."

Salisbury are without Taurean Roberts and Steve Walker, both ruled out through suspension. Those absences see competition for places hot up for Saturday’s trip.

Claridge added: “All of our sudden there are one or two who have come in and are starting to stake a claim.

Sam Roberts was great (at Fawley) and Jack Vallis did everything we asked. He was the difference between the two sides on Saturday.

“There were players you had question marks over and they are now starting to be answered.

“We are getting stronger and better and we’ll keep trying to improve.”

  • One dedicated Salisbury fan, Michaela Menzel, is cycling to Nuneaton Griff, like she does for all away games, covering a total distance of 125 miles.