JOHN Cornforth, pictured, will simply tell his players to produce more of the same when they entertain high-flying Grays Athletic tomorrow night in the Nationwide South (kick-off 7.45), despite County losing at home over the weekend.

They were beaten 1-0 by Carshalton on Saturday at Spytty Park, while tomorrow's visitors - second placed Grays - thumped Dorchester 7-0 away .

But County manager Cornforth is defiant in his message to his side, who he insists he congratulated after the final whistle.

He explained: "The first thing I did in the dressing room after the game was give the players a pat on the head and tell them that they had done well and needed to pick their heads up.

"Anyone who saw the game will know that we could have matched the six goals we scored in the FA Cup earlier in the week but it wasn't our day and we can't dwell on that.

"But for the side to be playing at the level that they are, with superb passion and commitment after only eight sessions since I took over, is a credit to them.

"We have a lot more shape as a team now and things are moving along quickly with this squad, because they listen and they work very hard.

"By all accounts Grays are one of, if not the best team in this league, but if we play like we did at the weekend then we will get a result.

"I hate losing, I absolutely detest it and I was sore about Saturday but that is gone and we need to be fully focused on Grays.

"I think at the moment we have a good enough squad to challenge for a place in the top half of the table, but we are all ambitious for the club and want better than that."

County signed Liam Powell last week and the Wales Under-21 international, who came on as a substitute, made a good impression on his new boss.

"He looked a good player and did really well considering he only joined up with us of Friday," Cornforth said.

"People were very complimentary about his performance and I was also pleased with how Andy Delve played in goal, his temperament is excellent.

"But our squad is not complete and we are looking to bring in a few more new faces and I know who my targets are, but they are playing for other clubs so it is a slow process."

Goalkeeper Roger Freestone is still injured and he is joined on the sidelines by Kevin Aherne-Evans and Nathan Davies.

All three are expected to be involved in the FA Cup clash at Tiverton on Saturday.