STAFFORD spoiled the celebrations on Friday but we remain upbeat and there is definitely more to come from this side.

Although we lost 3-0 some of the football played in the first half is some of the best I've seen in my time and that includes my spell at Burton.

Unfortunately we couldn't make the breakthrough and if there was a criticism it was that we didn't trouble their keeper enough.

It was the proverbial game of two halves and, though the score slightly flattered them, I think Stafford are a decent side and Friday's defeat was a timely reminder of just how tight this league is.

However I remain optimistic about our fortunes and I hope the supporters that came on Friday come back to see us again because that loss is not going to halt us.

The arrival of David Holmes has given us a further boost just when we needed it when the squad was looking a bit thin on the ground.

He will provide shape and balance to the team and his was one of the best debuts I've seen.

Although we have only scored one goal in four games I'm not unduly worried by that statistic because there were some tough games in there including the 0-0 draw at Crawley.

But in general we do need to weigh in with more goals from midfield and not just rely on the likes of Darren Middleton and Adam Webster. Pat Lyons is one who can contribute and after a good start to his City career I know there is still more to come from him and it's not a case of if, it's when, because I know what he can do.

One piece of good news is Danny McDonnell's decision to sign a contract extension which I am delighted with because every knows I rate him as the best keeper in this league.

He's a no nonsense character and it was a case of him saying he wanted to stay so let's sign and get it sorted.

Danny had an excellent first season with us but last year was interrupted by injury. However this season he is back to his best and it would be interesting to see how many points he has been worth to us over the years.

Saturday is FA Cup day and will be a welcome distraction after our league exploits and has definitely come at the right time.

In just over a calendar month we've played 11 games, which in days gone by would have taken us to November.

The FA Cup is always special but with the extra cash incentive, the cup has become a potentially rich source of funds. A decent run can net you upwards of £50,000 so the rewards are huge.

Stamford will be coming to Worcester aiming to take a big scalp and we will need to be careful. People say some cup draws are easier than others but in my experience there are no easy draws.