'They'll pay for their party at the Park'
9:18am Friday 16th May 2008
WANDERERS ace Russell Martin has warned Stockport County that they could pay for their celebrations at Adams Park last week.
He believes the Hatters' reaction after they snatched a draw from the first leg at Wycombe could come back to haunt them tomorrow evening.
County's fans, players and bench went berserk when Stephen Gleeson smashed in an 83rd-minute equaliser last Sunday to deny Wycombe a one-goal lead to take back to Edgeley Park.
And Martin says those scenes, coupled with the comments and actions of County boss Jim Gannon and his coaching staff, will spur Wanderers on to even greater efforts in a bid to claim a decisive second leg victory.
Martin said: The way they celebrated was as though they were through to Wembley.
"We were all surprised at the way their players and management were celebrating with the fans and will use that to spur us on."
And history shows that County's celebrations at safely negotiating the first leg without suffering any damage could be way too premature.
Since the play-offs began in 1987, some 22 teams have failed to make the most of home advantage in the first leg but have gone through after triumphing on enemy soil.
And Martin believes Wycombe can join that club and win their way through to Wembley on May 26 for a final against Rochdale or Darlington.
He said: "Stockport are obviously feeling very confident at the moment and they see themselves as being the favourites after drawing down here and beating us 6-0 at their place in the league.
"But we are not fussed about that result. The boys forgot about it the day after and it won't have any bearing on Saturday's result.
"That defeat came in freak weather conditions and they adapted to it better than we did, but it won't have any bearing on what happens now."
Martin, who was one of two Wycombe players to stick the ball through his own net that day, added: "It's not even in our minds and it certainly won't be in my head when we get into that dressing room."
Stockport have been playing mind games in the build up to the matches.
Hatters boss Gannon claimed ahead of the first game that Wycombe were scared of his team and has now called for extra protection from the referee following Saturday's ill-tempered and full-blooded Adams Park clash.
Martin said: "There's a few mind games been going on and it's his prerogative, we will just go about our business and do our talking on the pitch. Everyone is positive and looking forward to the game."
And the former England youth international says he will draw on the pain of missing out with Wycombe in the semi-final against Cheltenham Town two years ago to drive him on.
He said: "It was horrific coming into the dressing room afterwards and I don't ever want to feel like that again."