SOLIHULL Moors boss Andrew Whing admits he had to stop watching Wanderers in the build up to Saturday’s FA Cup first round match.

The former Coventry City full-back revealed that – much like Bolton – his squad has suffered issues with illness this week but after reviewing some of the Whites’ recent performances on video, he was reaching for the ‘stop’ button.

Moors are fourth in the National League but Whing believes they can still be competitive as they look to prolong Ian Evatt’s poor record in the competition as a manager.

“I can’t wait, I’m really looking forward to the game,” he told Moors’ YouTube channel. “They are a top, top team with a top, top manager who has done fantastically well.

“I have been watching their games and they have been brilliant, to be fair, they are kind of where we want to get to, in terms of how they play, front foot, aggressive, play forwards, some really good football players.

“They play fantastic stuff at times, so it is daunting in terms of it is going to be a tough game but we have come off the back of a couple of good results and there should be loads of belief in the camp.

“It is one where we are thoroughly looking forward to it.

“We are not going there to try and make the numbers up, we are going there to try and win a game of football. We know it is going to be incredibly tough, I have stopped watching them because they are a very, very good team. But I am really looking forward to it, pitting our wits against a top, top team and see how far we can go.”

Whing and his captain Jamey Osbourne were out in the town selling tickets for the tie, and more than 400 fans are expected to make the trip.

“It’s brilliant support and they have been magnificent recently,” said the Solihull boss. “We have been down the ground selling tickets the other day and the enthusiasm is great, everyone is looking forward to it ad making a proper day of it.

“We just hope they enjoy it and hope we can give them something to cheer about on the day. I hope they have a safe journey up there and enjoy it.”

Moors beat Wealdstone last weekend, following a solid draw with promotion rivals Barnet, with both results a positive step forward from a 5-0 hammering at the hands of Southend United a week earlier.

“After the defeat the other week we needed to bounce back and we did, fantastically well,” Whing said.

“I thought it was a good away performance against Barnet, a grinding result against Wealdstone last week that we know we can play better. We had a few injury problems and players playing in roles they were not used to.

“But we will take a lot of confidence from that win, especially with the two-week break from the league, and now go and enjoy tomorrow.”

Whing admits his side could be under-strength at the Toughsheet Stadium with a few players suffering illness in the build up to the first round tie.

“It has probably been the toughest week we have had all season,” he said.

“We have had a big illness going through the camp, which has been frustrating, but we will get a team out there tomorrow. I am hoping to win a game of football.

“But the good thing is that Warbs (Matthew Warburton) is back in the squad, Jack Stevens in back in the squad, Sarbs (Joe Sbarra) has had some good news this week, which is brilliant, hopefully he can start building his fitness up a little bit more now, which is great news for him and for us seeing him back out on the grass.

“A few illness issues this week but hopefully we can mend and patch a few up, see how they go tomorrow and hopefully go and try and win a game of football.”