ANDY Bye insists his disappointed New Milton Town squad have to put their FA Vase exit “in perspective”.

Linnets crashed to a 3-0 defeat against Wessex League rivals Christchurch in the third round on Saturday and get back to business in the Premier Division against Bournemouth Poppies tonight (7.45pm, Fawcett’s Field).

Bye, however, has urged his men to stay positive – and remember how far they have come since last season’s relegation dogfight at the foot of the Premier Division table.

Bye said: “It was disappointing but they have to put it in perspective. We did far better than perhaps anyone would have predicted at the start of the season after all the problems we had last year.

“We won three games in the competition and that’s getting on for £3,000 in prize money, which is great for the club. I think our lads deserve credit and they are just disappointed they didn’t do themselves justice on the day.”

Danny Cox was replaced on Saturday after suffering a thigh strain and will face a late fitness test ahead of tonight’s encounter, while Bye is hoping to have Mark Coleman (flu) available. Poppies, meanwhile, will be looking to firm up their defence after Saturday’s 4-4 draw at lowly Horndean in the league.

New Milton: (from) Clifton-Moore, Woods, Clarke, Grace, Pidgley, Burt, Holland, Kenna, Cox, Sampays, Woolner, Allen, Ewen, R Chengadu, Jones, Coleman.

Poppies: (from) Vaughan, Jones, S Langrish, G Langrish, Coverley, Beckett, P Roberts, Sanderson, Glenister, Saadi, Jack, Swann, E Roberts, M Toy, Geary, Ashby.