Carshalton boss: David has a limp and Goliath has a machine gun
5:59pm Thursday 12th January 2012 in Carshalton By Graham Moody
Paul Dipre has labelled Carshalton Athletic's big FA Trophy trip to Lincoln City on Saturday as David against Goliath - and David has a limp.
The Robins travel to the Imps, a League Two side until they were relegated last year, in the second round hoping to cause an upset.
But, they are in a terrible run of form not having won in six games and will have to do without the cup-tied Tony Finn, the suspended Tom Davis and David Ray and the injured Kennedy Adjei.
And although Dipre is excited about the day, he bemoaned having to name a depleted squad.
"I think if we had a full-strength side I would rate our chances a little bit higher than I do," he said.
"Tony has been our best player for the last few games, Tom is our best midfielder and David is our most consistent player and missing all of them makes it a little difficult.
"Lincoln are a very good side so it is David against Goliath but David has a limp and Goliath has a machine gun.
"It should be a great day out though and we have got three coaches going up to Lincoln.
"It will be a big day for players, for me and for the fans - it is probably the biggest cup fixture we have had for a long time.
"And it is the FA Trophy so can David beat Goliath? He probably can.
"We need the right rub of the green and a few things to fall our way but stranger things have happened and we are going there to win."
Carshalton lost 2-0 to Bury Town on Saturday and drew 1-1 with Aveley on Monday thanks to Finn's goal.
But any lingering play-off ambitions now look dead in the water with the Robins 13 points off the top five.
"We have given away five goals in the last five games from needless free kicks and penalties," added Dipre.
"A lot of our problems are self-inflicted and come through a lack of discipline.
"People automatically say we are managing it wrong but how do I stop them giving away needless free kicks?
"I tell them not to do it but there's not much more I can do beyond that."
Former Carshalton striker Byron Harrison signed for AFC Wimbledon from Stevenage on Wednesday but Dipre revealed the club was not set to make any money from the sale.
"We tried to agree a sell-on clause when Stevenage wanted to sign him from us last January," he said.
"But, at the end of the day, they said no and we didn't want to let Byron down so let him go and we wish him good luck at Wimbledon."
click2find
