JOHN Coventry says he will play a youthful East Thurrock United side in tonight’s Robert Dyas League Cup match against AFC Hornchurch.

The Rocks boss confirmed a number of first-teamers will sit out the first round tie against the Urchins – which will be the fourth time the clubs have met in the opeing two months of the season.

Coventry said that, although he will show the competition respect, he will be prioritising the weekend clash with Tooting & Mitcham United in the Third Qualifying Round of the FA Cup.

“I have to put the weekend’s game first,” said Coventry, who reached the First Round proper three years ago. “We know how special a day it was to get into the First Round and we want to relive that.

“We are viewing it as a massive opportunity, but so will Tooting & Mitcham.”

Coventry watched his team throw away a two goal lead inside the lead 10 minutes against VCD Athletic on Saturday and says his team need to make better decisions at times.

“It isn’t good enough,” he said. “We have dropped points at Hampton & Richmond Borough, Witham Town and VCD when we should have taken something from the games. We could be seven or eight points better off and the players need to take a bit more care at times.”

The League Cup game at Rookery Hill kicks off at 7.45pm.